QUEEN CITY SWING BAND PERFORMS AT THE LODGE
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
QUEEN CITY SWING BAND PERFORMS AT THE LODGE Nancy Marks Reporter It was a special night at The Lodge for those couples who love to dance. Fifty folks listened to the great dance music from the ’40s and the ’50s played by the Helena group Queen City Swing Band. The eleven-member band did not disappoint: they played tango, cha cha, waltzes and jitterbug.
The first live dance band music to perform in Townsend for some time was welcomed by those who enjoyed elegant decorations by Carla Amundson and appetizers prepared by Amanda Domino and Tina Homann. The audience clapped and stomped until the band played at least two encores after the 9 o’clock bell.
Even though the crowd consisted mostly OF people over fifty, six teenagers came to show them how it is done with an amazing rendition of Jitterbug, much to the hollers and claps of an enthusiastic audience. Saxophone player Rylan Edlin remarked at the enthusiastic audience, “ Sometimes our audiences are not nearly as excited to dance and sing as this group,” he said.
Heather Bell, the organizer of the band, pointed out how exceptional the Lodge venue is with good seating, natural air conditioning (open windows) and the convenience of an elevator. “It really makes moving our band instruments and stands very easy when we have use of an elevator,” she commented.
Queen City Swing Band has a great following. Members of the Helena Tango Group drove out to enjoy the evening. One Townsend dancer, retired school principal Chuck Smith, commented it was the first time he had danced in the Lodge since he attended a sweetheart dance when he was 17,” That was 59 years ago,” he said, “This is great!”
The dance band was hosted by Broadwater Community Theater as part of its season entertainment schedule. Their next performance will be a children’s play, Treasure Island, to be held in August. Sponsors for the Queen City Swing Band performance are The Lodge of Townsend, Bill Kearns, Townsend Hardware, S.T.O.K.E., Ron and Mary Ann Saladay, Dawn Langlinais, Albertina Homann, Pat Plantenberg and Mary Mistek, Townsend Rotary, St. Peter’s Health and EXIT Realty LaRinda Spencer.
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Carla Amundson engaged the band and organized the evening.
