What's The New England Shake-Up? I'm glad you asked. But before I get into it, let me tell you a story...
It was two years ago I attended a little weekender called Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. It was a Thursday evening, and I entered Brendan’s Pub where folks were just getting settled with their drinks ready to watch a live broadcast of Go Kat Go! The Rockabilly Show. I sat down at a table where flyers were scattered all over, but one stuck out, it was a flyer for The New England Shake-Up. My first thought was “Wait, there’s other Rockabilly weekenders besides Viva Las Vegas?!” Yes, Keith, there is. Duh! It was an awesome looking flyer, with the vintage graphic. Looking at this flyer, I was intrigued for two reasons; first the solid line-up of bands and second, it was in the East Coast. However, as much as I wanted to go, I just couldn’t afford nor make the time to travel there that year. I was bummed...
I said to myself, I’m definitely making plans for 2016, and I did. I booked my room by calling at 6 in the morning (because three hours difference East Coast time), bought a ticket online and got my flight. Now I just had to wait for almost a year until the day, and oh man was I excited when that day finally came.
I got to Boston on a Thursday morning and head over the host hotel in the small, quaint town of Sturbridge. It was indeed quaint and by the lake, which kind of felt like I was in the movie ‘Friday the 13th’ and you get that one old dude telling you “This town has a death curse!” Luckily, that didn’t happen. However, there is a hilariously creepy story about the Village Hotdog mascot in Sturbridge. I’ll tell you the story, the next time you see me.
Anyways, Thursday night was the pre-party aka Bloodshot Bill’s Spaghetti Shindig. It’s exactly what it is, a night of spaghetti and meatballs and the crazy Rockabilly sounds from Bloodshot Bill himself. It was a perfect way to kick off the weekend.
The next day, the New England Shake-Up officially started. I could go into detail about every band that played but I’ll just say every band was great that weekend. I got to see The Wildtones, Charlie Thompson & The Chickasaws, The B-Stars, The Raging Teens, The Rip’em Ups, Three Blue Teardrops, and Kim Lenz played a couple of songs, just every band was solid. And not just the great bands, but the all night record hop until 5 am (I’m used to staying up jiving and bopping until 7:30 am, but I’m not complaining. I could use the extra two hours of sleep).
Sunday afternoon was the indoor pool party and it was so laid back, just like the entire weekender. It wasn’t overwhelming, the music doesn't start until after 4pm, so you got time to hang out with everybody and make new friends, or sleep in after a long night of drinking and jiving. I have to tell you about the the food! Just down the street you can get some great BBQ at B.T.’s Smokehouse and a lobster roll at Sturbridge Seafood. However, I got the fish tacos and while it was delicious, I recommend not eating before Jive lessons. If you just want terrible fast food, there’s the 24 hour McDonald’s and if you’re on an liquid diet, then Yankee Spirits is the place to go. It’s the Costco of liquor stores, like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory but with alcohol instead of chocolate.
The New England Shake-Up is a real vacation, it’s like a Rockabilly Summer camp, and you don’t feel like complete shit on Monday morning, depending how much alcohol you’ve had, but you are sad when it’s over. That’s why I recommend you make plans before or after the Shake-Up. Check out Salem, stay in Boston for a few days and pretend you’re in The Departed (I take that back, that’s a terrible idea), or be like me and go to New York City for a week.
I have to give it up to the gal in charge, Beck Rustic. She puts together this weekender all by herself. I have to thank her for putting on such an amazing and fun weekend of music! This year is the fifth year and it just keeps getting better! Speaking of the fifth year, let’s talk about it. The band line-up this year is insane. I mean last year was great, don’t get me wrong, but this year’s line-up is... Wow! I’ll be honest, I don’t know how Beck is going to top this. Just look at the flyer!
The Bopthrills - The wild Rockabilly sound from Rhode Island!
Emma Williams & The Ramblin' Men - She sang at the Shake-Up last year during the Sunday Night Jamboree, so I’m looking forward to seeing her and her band playing the stage.
The 24th Street Wailers - I missed them at Viva Las Vegas, so this makes up for it.
The Rock-A-Sonics - I got to see these guys at Viva Las Vegas. They’re awesome and their front man has that Buddy Holly meets young Roy Orbison sound.
Lil Mo’ & The Unholy 4 - Who isn’t excited to see these guys? Always puts on a great show.
Bailey Dee & Her Late Night Baits - Saw them at Viva Las Vegas, and Bailey Dee has got a voice. Can’t wait to see them again.
The Starjays - I love this band and Angela and Roy are just the coolest, so of course I’m excited to see them again. They play rockin' jump blues. You don't want to miss them.
We got the Texas sound coming from Rockin’ Lloyd Tripp, Shaun Young & The Texas Blue Dots, and Lucky Tubb & The Modern Day Troubadours.
The Lucky Stars are playing, who I missed when they played in the Bay Area, twice in fact. I'll finally get to see these guys play.
The Barnshakers from Finland, a band that I’m very looking forward to seeing.
Freakin’ FURIOUS is playing!
Oh but that’s not all... The Go Getters! I even said last year, you know what would be awesome? If The Go Getters played The Shake-Up. Now they are!
And what’s a Rockabilly weekender without Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys?
Hold up! I'm not finished...
The Delta Bombers are playing the Car Show! Miss Amy Griffin (from Jittery Jack and The Raging Teens) will also be playing the Car Show and Boston’s Diablogato. So you’ll want to check that out. For your guitar player or just music lovers in general, there's Sean Mencher's Rockin' Afternoon!
After being exhausted seeing so many kick ass bands, you can relax at the indoor pool party, grab a tiki drink and listen to the sounds of The Hukilau Hotshots and Shorty’s Island Rhythmaires. I mean look at the video below... how chill is that?
Before I forget! For you vintage shoppers, there's a large room of vendors, so save up that cash! Oh yeah, there's miniature golf! I mean Rockabilly and mini golf?! Can't get better than that.
I think that about covers it. So did I convince you to want to go this year? Good!
If you went to Viva Las Vegas and/or Nashville Boogie but you’re having Rockabilly weekender withdrawal, then go to The New England Shake-Up. Now clear your schedule for September 21 - 25, grab your ticket online here, book your hotel (The Host Hotel is sold out but there’s a waitlist and other hotels just down the street), and get a flight or take a road trip there. You won’t regret it.
I know I probably skipped some things, so you can get all your New England Shake-Up info at: www.newenglandshakeup.com
Flyer and graphics by Beck Rustic | Photos by Keith Azoubel
