Get ready for the Battle of the Bands!

Who's psyched for the upcoming 80th anniversary of the legendary Battle of the Bands, the Savoy Ballroom's Greatest Event?

DJs Heather Flock and Ryan Swift have had the pleasure of listening (and listening...and listening) to the wonderful tunes of Benny Goodman and Chick Webb as they prepare to go head-to-head in the DJs booth at Frim Fram on May 11.  

The folks at Lindy Focus XV (where Ryan also happens to be Head DJ, btw) got to enjoy all a full night of these tunes recreated live over a couple of nights last December.  Jonathan Stout led an all-star orchestra for Benny Goodman and Chick Webb tribute nights.  Luckily for us, it was all captured on YouTube.  Why not spend the next few hours at work enjoying the recreated tunes of the two kings of swing while you get ready for Frim Fram on Thursday? Check out the videos below:

Lindy Focus XV: Chick Webb Live Stream:

Swing dancers and vintage music enthusiasts from all over the planet contributed over $20,000 this summer to fund a massive historical music project: to recreate, on sheet music, the repertoire of legendary Savoy Ballroom bandleader Chick Webb.

Lindy Focus XV: Benny Goodman Live Stream (Part 1):

This is our third year doing a Benny Goodman tribute night, and we're sure it's gonna be the best yet! Spoiler alert: you might wanna stick around for Sing, Sing, Sing parts one AND two at the end. Enjoy! www.lindyfocus.com

Lindy Focus XV: Benny Goodman Live Stream (Part 2):

This is our third year doing a Benny Goodman tribute night, and we're sure it's gonna be the best yet! Spoiler alert: you might wanna stick around for Sing, Sing, Sing parts one AND two at the end. Enjoy! www.lindyfocus.com

Chick Webb/Benny Goodman Savoy Battle 80th Anniversary!

Did you know that 80 years ago - May 11, 1937 - history was made at the legendary Savoy Ballroom as two of swing's greatest bands met head-to-head? Benny Goodman traveled to the Home of Happy Feet and alternated sets with the house band, Chick Webb in the "music battle of the century."  While some may still debate which band swung harder, at the end of the night the real winners of the Battle of the Bands were the SRO crowd of 4,000 who packed the Savoy (in addition to another 5,000 on the sidewalks outside).

Frankie and Norma were there, here's how they described that night:

Frim Fram is excited to honor this anniversary by having its two organizers and house DJs, Heather Flock (representing Benny Goodman) & Ryan Swift (representing Chick Webb & Ella Fitzgerald) go head-to-head on May 11, 2017 as the official kickoff to the final BABBLE weekend!