The Band Line-up for 2025
Seydurah Avecmoi – Jazz & Blues vocalist from New York City
We are beyond thrilled to welcome Seydurah Avecmoi — a sensational jazz and Blues vocalist from New York City, performing for Australian swing dancers for the very first time. With a voice that drips with soul, sass, and vintage glamour, Seydurah has lit up stages across Harlem and beyond, and now she’s bringing that magic straight to our dance floor. This is no ordinary gig — this is a Canberräng debut of international proportions.
Kate Wadey Quartet
Kate Wadey will be making her debut appearance at Canberräng this year. Kate’s positively Swinging band will include Andrew Scott on keys, Samuel Dobson on Double Bass and George Greenhill on drums. Kate displays a level of craft that will have you transfixed, leaving you full of joy and happiness, with a song in your heart and on your lips! Kate encapsulates just the right nuance and sincerity bringing new life to these beautiful songs.
Eamon McNelis’ Skellingtons Jazz Band
While Eamon is no stranger to swing dancers, and was here not that long ago with Leigh Barker and Canberrang under the Big Top some years back. We are super excited to feature this line up at Canberrang 2023, led by award-winning trumpeter and singer Eamon McNelis, and featuring the extraordinarily talented Jessie Gordon. The Skellingtons play evocative, swinging tunes from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Repertoire from the catalogues of Billie Holiday, Una Mae Carlisle, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton, Hoagy Carmicheal. Eamon McNelis was the 2010 winner of the Wangarratta Jazz Award for Brass, and is known for his work with Flap!, The Big Idiot Club, Jazz Party, The Pearly Shells, Leigh Barker, 1929 Studios and many more. His unique melodic approach to the trumpet has seen him perform at venues and festivals around the world including The Melbourne Lindy Exchange. Eamon is also featured on the theme of the ABC’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries series.
Local Canberra Legends
Supporting Our Headline acts, Shining in Their Own Right At Canberräng, we’re proud to showcase incredible headline acts from across Australia and around the world — but just as importantly, we’re deeply grateful for the local legends who help bring these performances to life. They’re the unsung heroes who make it possible to share world-class musicians like Jonno Zilber, Jessie Gordon, Georgia Brooks, Hetty Kate, Leah Barker, Professor Cunningham, Liam Budge, Gordon Webster — and now Seydurah Avecmoi — right here on your doorstep. This year, our headline artists are backed by some of the most talented musicians in Canberra — each one a standout in their own right. Some are seasoned professionals who play and teach music full-time. Others pursue it alongside their day jobs, travelling long distances and showing up at countless gigs, venues, and events — all to keep us smiling and dancing with their talent. They bring the swing, the soul, and the energy that make our dance floors come alive — and they do it with heart, style, and serious chops. Let’s give it up for the Canberra musicians powering two of our visiting vocalists this year: 🎶 Friday Night @ Verity Lane Local Canberra Musicians 🎹 Damien Slingsby – Keyboard 🥁 Luke Glanville – Drums 🎸 James Luke – Bass 🎺 Ben Marsten – Trumpet 🎷 Con Campbell – Saxophone 🎶 Saturday Late Night Blues @ The Polo Local Canberra Musicians 🎸 Greg Stott – Guitar 🥁 Steve Richards – Drums 🎹 Damien Slingsby – Keyboard 🎸 James Luke – Bass These artists are more than support acts — they’re the heartbeat of our scene. Thank you for being part of the Canberräng magic.
DJ’s
We’re have a stellar DJ line-up for Canberräng 2025 . 🎶
DJ Adam Lachlan
Adam is a Canberra local with a love for swing era jazz music. He believes that seriously good music makes seriously good dancing. He enjoys catchy riffs and a solid rhythm section, and has been known for even dabbling into soul, funk and all-round party bangers. Adam has grown a deeper appreciation for the roots of the music through his vinyl record collecting. You can often find Adam DJing his favourites which include Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Illinois Jacquet.
DJ Stephen Fee
A newer DJ to the swing scene, Stephen is quickly making a name for himself, with sets already featured at events across Australia — including the Winter Swing Festival (Hobart), Adelaide Lindy Exchange, Gold Coast Lindy Fest, Boogie Down South (Margaret River), and Seoul Lindy Feat in South Korea.
With a deep respect for the roots of swing, Stephen’s approach to DJ’ing is all about honouring the original artists who shaped the dance we love — while also championing contemporary musicians to help keep the scene vibrant and thriving.
DJ Richard Arnett
Richard had had his first DJ experience at an end of year party in Canberra several years ago. Nervous at DJing for a ‘big’ event, he was shaking instead of dragging and dropping, triggering songs that were to be played later that evening in the middle of songs people were already dancing to. He quickly found out that sampling swing music in that way is not something that brings out the best styling in dancers!
Moving onwards and upwards, Richard quickly honed his skills and is now a regular amongst Canberra’s talented DJs. He has a knack for keeping the social dance floor jumping, wit DJ appearances at Canberräng 2018 and the Jumptown Jam 2018. As a dancer with a fondness for interesting melodies and quirky lyrics, Richard will play you songs that will bring out your best musicality and theatrical moves. Keep an ear out for his thoughtful and creative sets!
DJ Oren Forward
Oren is recently back from Argentina and is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected swing DJs. After discovering swing dancing, he quickly fell in love with the music—and never looked back. For over twenty years, his passion for jazz and bringing people to the dance floor has taken him across Australia and around the world, with DJ sets in South Korea, the UK, Spain, Vietnam, and New Zealand.
He was most recently living in Argentina and Pakistan, and after several years away, we’re thrilled to have him back behind the decks.
“I play music to get people up and dancing. That’s why we’re all here, right?”
DJ Jocelyn Evans
Jocelyn has been DJing swing tunes to herself ever since childhood once she learnt how to use the family record player and discovered Benny Goodman/Gene Krupa’s ‘Sing sing sing’ on an old LP at the back of the record box. In spite of this early promise Jocelyn was a latecomer to the realisation she could dance to this amazing music, or even DJ for an audience greater than 1. But since joining the Canberra swing-dance scene she has been working to overcome her technophobic tendencies in order to swing the sound desk whenever the opportunity arises.
Jocelyn aims to keep your ears fresh with a mix of lyrical melodies, virtuosic solos, tight orchestrations and even the occasional classical riff given the swing treatment, and wants to keep you swinging all night long.
DJ Liam Honer
Liam began DJing in 2003, back when dual CD decks and mixers were cutting-edge. Swing DJing was a natural step after years of house party playlists, charity dance events and Weddings. A long-time fixture in the Australian Lindy Hop scene and local Teacher, he brings energy and passion to every set—reading the room, working with bands, and always aiming to top the last one.
Head DJ at Swing Camp Oz for many years and a regular DJ at Church City Blues and Blues Before Sunrise. An experienced DJ, he’s spun at major events across Australia. Liam also curates the DJ and band line-ups for Canberräng and Jumptown Jam. With a deep collection and a feel for the floor, he loves taking dancers on a journey—always slipping in a few unexpected gems. He’s pumped to bring the energy playing Blues and Lindy at Canberräng this year.
DJ Kevin
A lifelong music lover, DJ Kevonator has been professionally DJ’ing since 2008. With a wide, passionate & extensive knowledge of all genres of music, his sets are always custom tailored to fit the vibes of every dance floor.
With a strong appreciation for Piano led Jazz Music, vintage Big Band stylings & a pinch of the Classics we all know & love, DJ Kevonator’s sets are highly eclectic but always enjoyable for dancers of all styles & speeds.