A couple of weeks ago I got a lovely email from the people over at Vintage Guide to London saying I had won some tickets to Rock A Hula!
Rock a Hula! is an award winning 1950s rock n roll, hula hooping and swing dancing event. It’s resident on the third Friday of every month at Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes – London’s best vintage venue complete with cinema, karaoke rooms, 1950s American diner, cocktail bar and the only vintage above lane ball return outside of the US. Rock a Hula at Bloomsbury showcases the best in rock n roll/rockabilly/rhythm n blues bands, against a 1950s beach party backdrop complete with hula hooping, swing dancing lessons, palm trees, a Hawaiian photo booth and tropical cocktails. Star guests Nina’s Hair Parlour – the UK’s first vintage hairdressers – are often on hand for preening. Their resident vintage DJs are El Nino (Lady Luck/Black Cotton Club) and Tim from Hellzapoppin’ Club, and they regularly host guest hula hooping or burlesque cabaret performers.
So the 21st rolled around and myself and some of my girlys got all dolled up and headed over the Bloomsbury bowling lanes for some rockabilly hijinks.
I was a much more chilled out vibe than I was expecting, I think that was down to the bowling lanes, but was a really fun night!
The Dj was a very dapper gentleman called Tim Hellzapoppin who we found out has his own night called Hellzapoppin which had its 22nd anniversary recently! There was also a live band playing – The Obscuritones are described as…
Close harmony and rockin rhythm. Like the Andrews Sisters singin with the Stray Cats after a night out with the Cramps. Playing the best rockabilly rarities from the fifties . . surfin, spy and garage rock from the sixties . . . and wild originals from the hereafter. With Joey & Gaby – Vocals, Sam Kidman – Twangy Surf Guitar, Andy Bavington – Double Bass, Hugh Byrne – Twangy Rockabilly Guitar, Phil Casey – Frantic Drumming.
Though my favourite act of the night was the AMAZING hula performer/act … Constance Irkles! I am not someone who is blessed with coronation at all so was left truly stunned by how effortless and easy she made dancing while hula hooping
Chuck in free swing lessons and yummy cocktails and you have a top night!
Thank you Vintage Guide to London!
