2/15/2024
Welcome to Swing and Strings Weekly # 14
Thank you for tuning in! What a week it has been. The Cosmic Hootenanny was a smashing success! Together we raised over $27,000 for Megan Nay at the Commonwealth Room. It was incredible to see the community come together in such an impactful way. We feel so grateful to be a part of such a loving and generous community of friends and musicians.
FEATURED EVENTS
A Swing Renaissance Series
February 22nd
Hot House West Presents: A Rent Party
Rent parties were social gatherings in 1920's Harlem where musicians and dancers would gather to raise money to help cover tenants’ rent. These were formative moments in time where musicians collaborated and pushed the boundaries of their music further. We are partnering with Utah NeighborWorks to do this in our very own Salt Lake! 10% of all ticket sales will be donated to support their mission to:
"build on the strengths of neighborhoods, creating opportunities through housing, resident leadership, and youth and economic development."
Doors open at 5:30pm
Food trucks, art gallery, and bar from 5:30-6:50pm
Stride piano Performance at 5:45pm - Feat. Derek Coombs!
Performance by The Hot House West Swing Orchestra from 7:00pm - 7:50pm
Beginner-friendly Swing Dance Lesson from 8:00pm - 8:30pm
Social dance with the Swing Orchestra from 8:30pm - 10:00pm
Get your tickets now and save.
Presale price ends on February 15th!!!
Thank you to our corporate sponsors! We are excited to welcome Dented Brick Distillery. We're working on a special cocktail menu for the evening that will feature their artisanal, local spirits!
Upcoming Community Events
The Swing Collective - The Grand America
Friday, Feb. 16th, 7:00 -10:00 p.m.
Josie-O and the Big Six - Fisher Brewing Co. - Honky Tonk night (21+)
Tuesday, Feb. 27th, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Hosted by the Trash Moon Collective
The Swing Collective - Sawadee Thai
Saturday, March 2nd, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The Jazz Mentors Foundation - Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns
Monday, March 4th, 7:30 p.m.
A Swing Renaissance Series: Hot House West(ern) Swing Night
Thursday, March 28th, 5:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Weekly Events
Bluegrass Night - Hosted by Trash Moon Collective - Gracie's (21+)
Tuesdays (Feb. 20th) 7-10 p.m. (on-going)
Bluegrass Jam/Old Time Jam -
Hosted by Trash Moon Collective - Woodbine Foodhall
Wednesdays (Feb. 21st) 6-9 p.m. (on-going)
Rotating Jazz Trio - The Pearl on Main (21+)
Tuesdays (Feb. 20th ) 7-10 p.m. (on-going)
Rotating Jazz Trio - Sawadee Thai
Friday & Saturday (Feb. 16th & 17th) 6-9 p.m. (on-going)
Flamingo Jazz - Lake Effect Cocktail Bar (21+)
Wednesdays (Feb. 21st) 8 - 11 p.m. (on-going)
Jazz Jam - Hopkins Brewery (21+)
Wednesdays (Feb. 21st) 8 - 11 p.m. (on-going)
Our newsletters will go out every Monday as we begin to build a running list of jazz, swing and acoustic roots-related community events. If you would like to submit anything to this list, please message grayson@hothousewest.com by 5:00 p.m. the Wednesday prior. We will review it and add it to our events if it is a good fit. Thanks.
COMMUNITY NEWS
WEEKLY MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT
Vincent Georgescu
Vincent Georgescu stumbled into Gracie's bluegrass jam one summer's day in 2023, a casual visitor drawn by the twang of banjos and the warmth of gathered music enthusiasts. Invited to strum a chord, the strings resonated not just through the room but within Vincent himself, igniting a passion that hadn't found its spark until that moment. Since then, Vincent has become an indispensable figure in the local music scene, his rapid improvement on the guitar a testament to his dedication.
Bringing together his love of music with his passion for community organizing (he hosts a legendary pancake breakfast for runners on Sunday mornings) Vincent has become a staple of the scene. He currently works as the Volunteer Coordinator for Hot House West and can be found wherever there is music, friends, and fun. Vincent's journey from a curious visitor to a cornerstone of the music community underscores the unpredictable beauty of discovering one's passion in the most unexpected places. Thank you for all you do Vincent!
Listening Room: Music Appreciation for Non-Musicians
A little more about Rent Parties!
Rent parties were a vibrant social phenomenon that emerged in 1920s Harlem, New York, as a response to economic hardships faced by African American communities. These informal gatherings were hosted by tenants in their apartments to raise money for rent. Attendees paid an entrance fee, which contributed to the host's rent, while enjoying a night filled with music, dancing, and socializing. Rent parties played a crucial role in the Harlem Renaissance, fostering a sense of community and resilience. They also served as incubators for jazz and blues music, with live performances by up-and-coming musicians, thus becoming a fundamental part of Harlem's cultural and musical legacy.
Learn more in this clip from "Harlem History".
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to create experiences of connectedness, learning, and joy through the language of acoustic music.
Our Vision
We envision Salt Lake City as a hub for world class acoustic music. We accomplish this by building a healthy community-oriented ecosystem that’s accessible for all.
Thank you for hanging out with Hot House West! We are an organization devoted to growing and supporting Utah’s swing and acoustic roots music community. We believe that acoustic music—from swing and jazz to bluegrass, old-time, country and western— brings people together and creates opportunities for connectedness, learning, and joy.
Our goal is to provide and promote weekly and monthly events, from dances, to jams, concerts, and workshops, that support and build our acoustic community. If you’ve ever wanted to dust off the ol’ guitar, meet new players, find a dance partner, or even just find more live acoustic music, follow us, spread the word, and join our Hot House West community! We hope to see you soon!