Keenan McKenzie & the Riffers
The Riffers are a swing band specializing in original music and tight arrangements from the 1930s and 1940s. The band's distinctive sound was originally developed for Keenan's debut album, Forged in Rhythm. Since then, they have performed at dance weekends from NYC to San Francisco.
The group offers a mix of unique big band reductions and swing-era combo tunes, all with a focus on energy and rhythm. Keenan leads with over a decade of experience running bands and playing for dancers. He programs shows with a critical attention to tempo and emphasizes rhythm and energy on the bandstand.
The group offers a mix of unique big band reductions and swing-era combo tunes, all with a focus on energy and rhythm. Keenan leads with over a decade of experience running bands and playing for dancers. He programs shows with a critical attention to tempo and emphasizes rhythm and energy on the bandstand.
Laura Windley
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Laura came to jazz music from the dance floor, picking up swing dancing in 1998. Laura went on to co-found the Mint Julep Jazz Band with trombone player Lucian Cobb in 2012. Laura has become a staple of swing dance events throughout the U.S., performing with her own band as well as bands led by Jonathan Stout, Michael Gamble, and more.
Singing in a sweet style with a serious rhythmic underpinning and drawing comparisons to a young Ella Fitzgerald, Ivie Anderson, and Helen Forrest, Laura is known for her authenticity of sound - as you enter the dance hall, you may think you are hearing a vintage recording. She can't help but swing, no matter what the tempo, and she has a splendid conversational approach to the lyrics.
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Event DJs
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Dave BarryAtlanta, GASince coming to the Southeast in 2015, Dave has become one of the more sought after and innovative DJs in the region. In the booth his sets have "oomph" - starting with 30's era swing and ending with a groovy twist. This usually means a hefty amount of Johnny Hodges, Billie Holiday, Basie's Decca years and an impressive variety of rare and lesser known artists that Dave finds through his other side hustle, The Jazz Garden. At his apartment in Atlanta, Dave gives warm homes to abandoned and forgotten vinyl records and CDs, and has serious opinions about his fantasy Big Band lineup.
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Sebree TurnerNashville, TNSebree currently resides in Music City a.k.a Nashville, TN! She was introduced to the world of all things swing jazz well over a decade ago now, thanks to a roommate inviting her to join the local college club at IU. It was there she first dipped her toe into DJing via the usual swing DJ pipeline... the club needed more volunteers and Sebree had a teeny, tiny music library blossoming so she gave it a go. Since then, her library and love for the genre haven't stopped growing! Sebree is always up for nerding out over swing jazz so don't hesitate to ask about that song she just played when you see her behind the DJ table.
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RachelIndianapolis, INRachel (she/her) fell in love with swing dancing at her very first lesson in 2012, and has since spent countless weekends traveling to learn, compete, and meet new friends from all over the country. Best described as an exuberant, enthusiastic teacher, Rachel loves to share her passion for dance with anyone willing to learn. The joy she gets from dancing is infectious - you won't make it through a song without a smile on your face! As a DJ, she loves to play the jump blues tunes of her St. Louis hometown alongside her favorite Count Basie classics while highlighting the modern bands you can still see live at events. She puts her heart into the best late night vibes, whether that's keeping things grooving with early R&B or slowing things down for bluesy cool down at the end of the night. Wherever you see her -- you can count on Rachel to bring the energy to the floor!
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Alex JacksonKnoxville, TN
Alex has been spreading cheerfulness and jazz among the regional swing dance communities for over a decade and joined the ranks of the Knoxville DJs in 2018. Whether he's playing the tunes or grooving with a partner, "the People's DJ" keeps the dance floor bouncing by playing solid standards and inspiring musical merriment.
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Join us in Knoxville March 27 - March 29, 2026
Dive into a weekend of vintage jazz dancing where the Southeast meets the Midwest to learn, throw down, inspire, grow, work together, and dance your hearts out. We're back for another year of fantastic classes, teachers, music and dancing in the heart of the TN Valley!
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site images by Nick Williams, Sammi Kunz, Jeff Liu-Leyco, Gabi Rosenthal Photography, American Vernacular and JBrantley Photography