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Swanvesta Social Club[buena vista social club Latin, 10 piece]
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A blend of experienced musicians from the St Albans Latin Quarter that cannot help playing everything with just a little twist of Cuba. Sing yourself hoarse and dislocate your hips to the grooviest sound of the Summer.
The Swanvesta Social Club includes Señor Chris Cojones, Olivero Bongalez, El Gnomo, Anneliesa Annaconda, Baby Boom-Boom, Pedro Tecnico, Leonardo los Claves, Miami Miguel, San Miguel Dos, Che Groovera and Nikita Managita (manager).
At home in good music venues, the 'Vestas' are also experienced in festivals and specialise in showbiz parties.
The Swanvesta Social Club
party@swanvestasocialclub.co.uk
Forthcoming gigs (4 of 6 total): Sun 25th May: the snug bar, St Albans... Sat 14th Jun: Club Havana, St Albans... Sat 21st Jun: the Royston Club, St Albans... Sun 22nd Jun: The Six Bells, St Albans
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| Sun 25 May |  mobile »
| | Swanvesta Social Club at the snug bar, St Albans ¡Compadres -The snug bar at el Fleur is opening its garden - Los Vestas will be cubaning it up in the garden all afternoon - if you are there it will be perfecto - is it a date? Véale allí! 2.30pm - 6pm ¡The Fleur Of Revolution! Get a cocktail y cómo bailaremos. |
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| Sat 14 Jun | mobile »
| | Swanvesta Social Club at Club Havana, St Albans This venue is now a superb club - The best cocktail bar in town lovely dance floor a fantastic chill out room - so it is the natural venue for The Swanvesta Social Club.
Pedro on the decks will provide cheesy Latin dance floor fillers - two extended sets from the Swanvestas - goody bags - prizes for the most tropical dressed hombre and senorita and so much more.
Unlike most places we play you will have room to swing a cat! This is the big evening out - we are so excited and if you are there to it will be very special indeed! 8pm - 1am Havana as it should be smart venue, great dance floor and the Swanvestas who will be on fire! £8 |
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| Sat 21 Jun | mobile »
| | Swanvesta Social Club at the Royston Club, St Albans its the Royston fund raising fun day here in the heart of the Latin quarter -
they have been great to us with rehearsal space and in return we are very happy to do a guest appearance at this important day for these amigos - come along! 3pm - 4pm An early afternoon pleasure |
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| Sun 22 Jun | mobile »
| | Swanvesta Social Club at The Six Bells, St Albans Its Chuck's Flame Academy - you know you will love it! Flame on with the Cuban Salsa extravaganza! |
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| Wed 2 Jul | mobile »
| | Swanvesta Social Club at The Black Lion, St Albans 7pm - 10pm |
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| Sat 5 Jul | mobile »
| | Swanvesta Social Club at The Two Rivers Festival, Chepstow Playing alongside the Oyster Band and the Bagdaddies see the website for details - we've got a cool evening slot underneath the castle.
PS Everything you have heard about this been the best festival on the circuit is true. 7pm The summers most innovative folk festival goes latin! £TBC |
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| 2. *** THE SWANVESTA SOCIAL CLUB *** 3. BAR-62 · Sun May 6 · BANK HOLIDAY WIND-UP |
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| Previous Gigs / Events | |
Swanvesta Social Club + Mike Williams at Saba, St Albans on Thu 15th May 08  write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at 'Home From Home' Ball at Sopwell House Hotel, St Albans on Sat 3rd May 08 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at O'Neill's, St Albans on Mon 17th Mar 08 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at The Vintry, St Albans on Thu 6th Mar 08 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at The Horns, Watford on Sat 23rd Feb 08 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at The Black Lion, St Albans on Mon 31st Dec 07 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at Bar 62, St Albans on Sun 23rd Dec 07 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at The Victoria, Hitchin on Mon 27th Aug 07 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at Bar 62, St Albans on Sun 26th Aug 07 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
| Swanvesta Social Club at The Horns, Watford on Sat 28th Jul 07 write a gig review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
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| Reviews | |
| Write a review for Swanvesta Social Club » | |
 Like No Other The Vintry, St Albans on Thu 6th Mar 08 | |
  I didn't realise that the Vintry was a music pub but got a tip-off from friends about this gig. They don't appear regularly but are an absolutely stunning band. There must be about ten of them including brass and percussionists. As well as playing classic Cuban they display a perverse delight in converting virtually any pop song into a Latin dance number. I can remember Kylie and The Kaiser Chiefs but the rest is a happy blur. The place ended up in an endless sweaty singalong with everyone from teenagers to crumblies. Spot on. | |
| A music fan, Mon 10th Mar 08 | |
| Reply from Swanvesta Social Club: ¡Ah gracias senor or senorita for taking the time to write this buena revisión!
We love the crumblie teenager sweaty singlong thing
xx | |
| Lively hot rhythms Bar 62, St Albans on Sun 26th Aug 07 | |
 Second time I've seen this band. They seem to have a huge following and deservedly so. They rock through Latin/Cuban favourites non-stop. With the UK now being hit by global warming - 1 week and 2 days this year - this fun-loving band is assured of a great future. Almost makes you happy to pay the gw taxes. This band will lift you. Get to the gigs early or you won't get in. | |
| Derek, Watford, Tue 28th Aug 07 | |
| Love and tears The Six Bells, St Albans on Sun 8th Jul 07 | |
 300 members of the community that is the 6 Bells in St Michaels balmed in the enchanted garden that has previously experienced all kinds of nationalities of music on the first dry summer sundae of 2007 and took in the wave that is the Swan Vestas.
Oftimes Cuba mix "Camp Road", the feel embraces the quartet to the left of the stage who pogo Latino and the octogenarian dancing with the girl with 1980's shoulder pads through to the masses with heads bobbin' 'n' knees throbbin'.
Smiles smiles smiles as the alcohol courses and the rhythm section perfects the art of perfection. This is the best sound in St Albans now and will be for some time to come.
Those who experienced it are still reliving it a week on. If you build it they will come! Sublime. | |
| Giovanni Santiago, Sun 15th Jul 07 | |
| Ole! O'Neill's, St Albans on Fri 3rd Nov 06 | |
I have never in my life been quite as stunned as on Friday when I walked into my local Irish pub - the kind of place that serves nuts as an appetizer and where the floor is permanently wet (whether with blood or beer, one never likes to ask), to be confronted by an eight piece Cuban band living it up on stage like there was no tomorrow.
For a second, I thought I was hallucinating as I looked at the eight middle-aged, sombreroed, maraca-wielding rockers on the stage, to the usually empty large room. It was packed, floor to ceiling in pineapple decorated splendour with people having what appeared to be, a riot. Suddenly, I understood the 'one in one out' door policy and bought myself a cider and found a rare free, if slightly damp, bar stool and settled down to watch the show.
I must say I was impressed. Swanvesta Social Club was the most enjoyable band I have seen in ages. Though their take on music could hardly be described as, 'fresh' or 'new', it was so enjoyable that the band annihilated any criticisms you may have had in an explosion of colour and sexy rhythms. Their infectious group personality, humorous stage antics - including the sombrero dance-off and singer Senor Chris Cojones (also known as Chris Paton, my favoured, surprisingly talented ex-teacher) and his classic shirt stripping moment held the audience in raptures of laughter and delight.
Their funky Cuban beats descended upon the masses, whipping them into a Latin frenzy as they were encouraged to dance the night away and enjoy the "inauthentic sounds of Cuba" in the new Latin quarter of St Albans.
Their set comprised mainly of covers, ranging from the traditional - Mas Que Nada, Sway, and Guantanamera to spiced up takes on modern hits such as The Kaiser Chiefs' I Predict a Riot and Katrina and The Wave's I'm Walking on Sunshine. The eclectic song mix was truly inspiring and the definite reason for the wide age range of audience members - ranging from sweaty 50 year old groupies, twenty and thirty year old ex- pupils to fresh faced (and blatantly underage) current ones - who exhibited some quite graphic booty shaking that left me feeling my age, and the recipient, their poor unfortunate teacher, looking quite ill.
Suddenly it was over. Following over an hour of diving headfirst into the sultry sounds of Latin soul and Cuban rhythm the audience were left cheering for more. After a brief encore of Mas Que Nada the band put down their instruments and their godlike status to mingle with the crowd. I can only assume that come Monday they all returned to their 'regular' jobs and pastimes. But one thing is for certain, for Senor Chris Cojones, teaching, and his current students, will never look quite the same again. | |
| Sarah Summerfield, Thu 9th Nov 06 | |
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| CDs | |
 | | Never Mind The Bongos
Produced in response to continuous requests, a five track CD of favourites. March 2008. Available at gigs. |
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 | | Live at The Vintry
Bootleg live album of ten tracks reported to be available within the tight network of supporters and friends. Cash offers only. No questions asked.
Superb digital quality apparently achieved by taping the recorder to the pub ceiling.
Includes Latin chart topping 'Ella Muchacha' and a background conversation about somebody's brother that some bird used to know.
Find it. Love it. |
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| Soulfish |
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 ¡Hola nuestra venda del alma del fave - Clive Batkinados (guitarra de los pescados del soul) es nuestra tapa dep!
Soul Fish the fave soul band of St Albans Latin Quarter- Clive Batkinados (soul fish guitar) is our top dep!
Gracias |
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| Page last updated 14 May 08, gig/event details last updated 14 May 08. |
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| Page first created on Lemonrock 14 July 06. |  |
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