Toronto 2013 Winter Dance Party

The hottest show of the season hits the El Mocambo, Saturday, February 2nd, as Rockhouse T.O. Productions and The Millwinders join forces to bring you the Toronto 2013 "Winter Dance Party"! This spectacular package show will be staged on the anniversary of the 1959 date of the "Winter Dance Party Tour" at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, forever immortalized in rock 'n' roll history as the final concert for chart toppers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson – their fatal plane crash the early the following morning led to the date being marked as "the day the music died."

The music lives in 2013, and the Toronto 2013 Winter Dance Party recaptures the spirit and excitement of the first wave of rockabilly and '50s rock 'n' roll, celebrating and commemorating the original event with a wild package show at a historic venue. Three top-notch live acts will heat up the joint in the dead of winter, along with a team of ace record hops to keep the dance floor hoppin'!

Travelling to T.O. from Boston, Wild Records recording artist Jittery Jack makes his debut Toronto appearance at the Winter Dance Party, guaranteed to tear the place up with his frantic jumped-up rockabilly sound, joined by the renowned Miss Amy (The Raging Teens) on guitar. Toronto wildcats The Millwinders bring their own brand of live fireworks to the stage, with a wild rockin' set of traditional rockabilly and R&B material. The Millwinders lineup are no strangers to the rockabilly scene, having played in bands such as The Royal Crowns, Real Gone, and The Tin Eddies, and recent recruit Mark Sanders completes the lineup with a big Gretsch twang. 100 proof reckless hillbilly jive cats Tennessee Voodoo Coupe round out the bill, primed to rock it up in its usual high-spirited fashion. TVC tackle a mix of early rockabilly, country, swing and '40s jump blues, and is fine-tuning new material in anticipation of its upcoming appearance at the annual Viva Las Vegas rockabilly weekender.

DJ Rockin' Dave Faris and Montreal's DJ Matchbox will be onhand, spinning a mix of revved-up rockabilly, vintage rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, and 1959 Winter Dance Party hits throughout the evening. DJ Rockin' Dave Faris is the resident DJ at the East End Rockabilly Riot and Rock-A-Billy Shake-up events, as well as a regular guest host on CIUT 89.5 FM. DJ Matchbox started spinning rockin' wax in Montreal during the '80s rockabilly revival, and keeps dancefloors busy at events such as the Red Hot and Blue Rockabilly Weekend, as well as hot rod shows and club gigs. Expect some floor stompin' rockabilly boogie and hillbilly bop all night long!

Revisit the sounds and excitement of early rock 'n' roll at the Toronto 2013 Winter Dance Party, one night only! The action takes place upstairs in the historic ballroom at the El Mocambo, a rock 'n' roll landmark and one of Toronto's most storied live venues. Tickets now on sale at the El Mo, the Cadillac Lounge, and Sunrise Records (Yonge & Dundas location).

For more information, contact: rockhouse.to@gmail.com