Events
Consult our Program for more information.
We bring you the juiciest carrots for swing dancers: hard swingin' and ass shakin' bands both big and small, some of the best DJs in Australia, venues to delight your dancing feet and social events for chilling out with new and old friends.
Catch the JW Swing Orchestra at Friday's Baby Got Back-to-Back Swing, Carol Ralph, Bob Sedergreen and Friends at Saturday’s Touch of Class and Michael McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythmakers at Sunday's Ass Shaker dance.
And when the bands are done, our fabulous DJs will keep you glued to that dance floor 'til the sun is well and truly up.
Tickets and Passes
To get the best value for your dancing dollars register for an MLX7 pass to score an amazing discount. But if you miss out on a pass, we will still be selling tickets to individual events at the door.Late Night Dancing
Dance your ass off with late night dancing to our very fine DJs till the cock crows.While our focus is on lindy hop in the main room, MLX7 sees the return of MLX6's super-popular hot sides events:
Flip any hit record over and you'll find a sleeper-hit. Or perhaps something a little unusual. We'll be spinning alternative tracks in the B-Sides session in Hee Haw Lounge late Friday night, from the rare and unusual to the raw and unnatural. Be prepared to set aside your lindy shoes - because it's time to get down and get funky.
And on Sunday night get a little steam on your clothes dancing the blues at the Sugar Bowl.
The Hee Haw Lounge
The Hee Haw Lounge will be the MLX7 late-night hub, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights til very late (or very early!), serving hot drinks, alcohol and light refreshments. Retreat to the Hee Haw lounge for a quiet drink or some serious stomping at any hour of the MLX7 weekend.
Thursday 22nd November
The Booty Call
Kick up those heels and start the weekend off with a bang at one of Melbourne’s favourite social nights. We bring you two rooms to give you twice the music variety, extra space to dance (to minimise any stray hooves) and a chance to meet and greet old and new friends.
DJs: TBA
When? 8:30pm-12:00am, Thursday 22nd November
Where? Downstairs and the Main Level at CBD nightclub, 12 McKillop St, Melbourne
Getting there? Any bus, tram or train to the city
Cost? Free
Gangbusters
The MLX7 Gangbusters features superfast tracks for speedfreaks, balcaholics' and lindy hoppers alike.DJs:TBA
When? 9:45pm-12:00am, Thursday 22nd November
Where? Downstairs at CBD nightclub, 12 McKillop St, Melbourne
Getting there? Any bus, tram or train to the city
Cost? Free
Swingin' at the Spiegeltent
Once again we descend on the Famous Spiegeltent for some late night dancing in one of Melbourne's loveliest venues.DJs: TBA
When? 12:00am-late, Thursday 22nd November
Where? Famous Spiegeltent, Arts Center precinct, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Getting there? Any bus, tram or train to Flinders Street station, or a short walk from the CBD nightclub.
Cost? $5 (this is not an MLX7-run event)
Friday 23rd November
Vintage Clothing Shopping Tour
Shopping tour of Melbourne starts with a (takeaway) coffee to get y'all started in one of Melbournes best kept secrets, Degrave St . For those wanting a bit more time to stagger out of bed, the Second Wave tour will start at 11am
When: Friday 22nd November 10am or 11:00am for late risers
Where: 10:00 am at Degraves Espresso, Degrave St, in the CBD. 11:00am TBD
Getting there: Any bus, train or tram to the city.
Bring: water bottle to rehydrate you after hours of drooling over nice things
Wear:comfy shoes for walking
Cost: Daily Zone 1 PT ticket ($6.30)
Welcome Drinks
Join the herd at the watering hole - meet current friends and make new ones at the MLX7 Welcome Drinks.
When? 6:00pm-8:15pm, Friday 23rd November
Where? The Rooftop Beer Garden @ The Corner Hotel
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city. A Short walk from Forever Dance.
Cost? Pay as You go
Baby Got Back-to-back Swing
Swing like a gate to one of the hardest swinging bands in Melbourne, the JW Swing Orchestra. They have music for everyone from those new to swing dancing to those who’ve been around the barn a few times.
DJs: TBA
When? 8:30pm-12:00am, Friday 23rd November
Where? Forever Dance ballroom, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city
Cost?$20 or free with an MLX7 pass
Dance Your Ass Off
More hours of late night dancing than can possibly be good for you. This year The Barn is home to the MLX7 late night lindy hopping adventures, featuring some of the hottest lindy DJs playing great music of all tempos and styles.
DJs:TBA
When? 12:00am-6:00am, Friday 23rd November
Where? Forever Dance ballroom, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city
Cost? $10 or free with an MLX7 pass (includes entry to B-Sides)
B-Sides
The rare and unusual to the raw and unnatural. Be prepared to set aside your lindy shoes - because it's time to get down and get funky.
DJs:TBA
When? 12:00am-6:00am, Friday 23rd November
Where? The Hee Haw Lounge @ Forever Dance, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city, but please note: most trams will have finished running by midnight.
Cost? Free with an MLX7 pass or entry to Dance Your Ass Off
Saturday 24th November
Ass Chillin'
Chill out by the bay in one of Melbourne best well known areas – St Kilda.
Keep that burro going with takeaway from one of the many cafes or bring your own fodder for a picnic overlooking the bay. But if those hooves just can’t stop then keep stompin' or slidin' to some swingin' tunes provided by the Melbourne Ukulele Kollective under the rotunda.
...or soak those tired trotters in Australia’s only indoor heated sea water pool with magnificent views of the bay topped off with a luxurious hydrotherapy spa and a steam room. Or to really indulge yourself chose from a treatment from the Li`tya Spa (this part must be pre-organised with the centre and paid personally).
For a sweet end to a great day, grab an ice-cream or sweet pastry from the infamous Ackland street shops
Pool & Gym website: www.southpacifichc.com.au
Li'tya Spa Dreaming website: www.litya.com
E-mail: enquiries [at] southpacifichc [dot] com [dot] au
When? 1:00pm-5:30pm, Saturday 24th November
Where? Catani Gardens, Bi-Centenial Rotunda, and then onto St Kilda Baths - 10-18 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda
Getting there? Catch the Tram down St Kilda Rd from the city, then walk east for 3 blocks
Cost?Free with an MLX7 pass or $12 Adults, $8 Concession, $5 Children (5-12)
A Touch Of Class
This night is all set to delight you from your head to your heels. Treat yourself to a night of fantastic jazz music with some of the best Australian jazz musicians as Carol Ralph with Bob Sedergreen and Friends light up one of Melbourne’s most beautiful art deco halls. To tickle your tongue finger food will be provided and a whole range of drinks are available to buy at the bar.When? 8:30pm-12:00am, Saturday 24th November
Where? Ormond Hall, 557 St Kilda Rd Melbourne. Enter via Moubray St.
Getting there? One of the many trams down St Kilda Rds from the city, including #6, #5 and #64.
Cost?$25 or free with an MLX7 pass
Dance Your Ass Off
More hours of late night dancing than can possibly be good for you. This year The Barn is home to the MLX7 late night lindy hopping adventures, featuring some of the hottest lindy DJs playing great music of all tempos and styles.
DJs:TBA
When? 12:00am-6:00am, Saturday 24th November
Where? Forever Dance ballroom, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city
Cost? $10 or free with an MLX7 pass
Sunday 25th November
Burro's Breakout
Let those burros loose to the tunes of a live band at one of Melbourne’s liveliest icons, the Queen Victoria Market. Graze at stall upon stall of fresh food or drive a hard bargain at the variety shops. As a special treat in conjuction with the Queen Victoria Markets MLX have organised for one of Victoria's hippest swing outfits Swing It!! to be playing free of charge for your dancing delight. Drag yourself out of bed for this one!!
When? 11:45am-1:45pm
Where? Queen Victoria Markets, cnr Victoria and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne
Getting there? Any tram, train or bus into the city (catch an Elizbeth Street tram down if you're not up for the short walk).
Cost?Free (Unless you spend all of your money at the Market!!)
The Ass Shaker
You won't be able to stay in your seat when Michael McQuaid's Red Hot Rhythmakers take to the stage. Shake that ass to some of the best swing music from the 20's and 30's.
Special note: we've worked with the band to create a playlist especially geared towards dancers with an even wider range of tempos and authentic jazz sounds.
When? 7:00pm-10:00pm Sunday 25th November
Where? Forever Dance ballroom, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city
Cost?$15 or free with an MLX7 pass
Sugar Bowl
The MLX7 Sugar Bowl is a complement to the main lindy hop late night event, and features saucy grooves and gut-buckets of blues with Julie O'Hara and Her Blues Band to take you into a world of bluesy bliss and followed by some of the finest DJs in the blues dancing world. Super-slow and super-sweet enough to satisfy your inner blues dancer and put a little steam on your clothes.DJs: TBA
When? 10:00pm-late Sunday 25th November (After The Ass Shaker)
Where? The Hee Haw Lounge @ Forever Dance, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city
Cost?$10 or free with an MLX7 pass (includes entry to Kiss That Ass Goodbye)
Kiss That Ass Goodbye
If you haven't had enough after all that, pop into the dance to end all dances and Kiss That Ass Goodbye. With a room of tired, happy dancers you can bet we'll kick it on as long as we - and you - are able.
DJs: TBA
When? 10:00pm-Late Sunday 25th November
Where? Forever Dance ballroom, 432 Church St, Richmond
Getting there? the #70 tram runs down nearby Swan St from the city
Cost?$10 or free with an MLX7 pass
Unofficial MlX7 events
Each year locals plan a host of unofficial events to coincide with the MLX weekend. Join us for the 'off-program' MLX7 events:
- Madame Dynamite's MLX7 special
What? Hard core social dancing at one of Melbourne's premier social dancing venues with special guest DJ Trev Hutchison (Perth, WA).
When? 8pm - 11.30pm, Wednesday 21st November
Where? Hashy Hall - 214 Inkerman Street, St Kilda East. Corner of Raglan & Inkerman Streets. Look for the funky graffiti!
Cost?$4 for MLX7 passholders, $7 for others
For more questions post on the Swing Talk board - Australian Federal Election
When? Saturday 23rd November
Where? Find a polling place by searching this site
Cost? Free - or a fine if you're an Aussie and don't
More info? Try the Australian Electoral Commission - The MLX7 pub craw poker walk
When:The afternoon of Sunday 25th Nov, starting after SwingIt!! at 1:45.
Where: We've worked out a list of bars and clubs, each different from the others. We have:
The Stork (1:45 - 2:45)
The Order of Melbourne (3:00 till 3:45)
The Lounge (3:50 till 4:30)
Young and Jacksons (4:45 - 5:30)
The Corner Hotel. (5:50 - 6:30)
[FYI: www.melbournepubs.com for more pub details]
How much: All of these places have beer on tap except for The Order of Melbourne, which is a bar with bottled beer and an extensive selection of spirits. Prices range from between $3.00 and $4:50 for a pot. You'll probably get by with 25 bucks, unless you want to drink more/less, or drink non-tap beer, in which case it could go either way.
Who: Please direct enquiries to Public Enemy or Pooch Badger (via private message or post on the Swing Talk board), as this is not an official MLX event.
Why:Why not?