Parties

We present to you 5 evenings of partying hard, that never finish before 4 in the morning. We kick off each evening with unmissable Upside Down starters, followed by a dope selection of live bands and DJ’s. Be ready for some surprises, competitions, and shows.

We have limited spots available for one evening single tickets, only valid for local dancers. Register as a couple, no combinations of evenings are possible. Friday and Saturday nights are already sold out.

All parties take place at Danspunt

18:30 – 21:30 Dinner @ Amour

21:00 – 4:00 DJ Dom ‘Hand Solo’ Eagleton

21:30-22:00 Upside Down Starter – a unique surprise

22:15 – 1:40 Live music: Big Band ‘t Mouvement (BE)

23:00 Solo jazz competition

The first evening, none other than our local Big Band ‘t Mouvement will warm up your feet.

They are the ambassadors of all your beloved swing classics. Think Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Gene Krupa, Fletcher Henderson, and many more from the 30s and 40s.

Playing in Ghent pubs as well as at national and international dance festivals this band proves jazz is for everybody.  Marie-Anne Standaert keeps this over-enthusiastic gang on a tight leash.  ’t Mouvement will get you back on your feet on the first night of Upside Down!

18:30 – 21:30 Dinner @ Amour

21:00 – 4:00 DJ Superheidi

21:30 – 22:00 Upside Down Starter – a unique surprise

22:15 – 2:00 Live music: Shirt Tail Stompers (UK)

23:00 Open “Ruler of the Hill” Competition

The Shirt Tail Stompers, led by trumpeter Steve Coombe, have played at numerous dance camps and shows in over 25 countries all over the world. They have a passion for swing music and an extensive understanding of social dancing. We challenge them to turn our Thursday evening Upside Down!

18:30 – 21:30 Dinner @ Amour

21:00 – 5:00 DJ Kris

21:30-22:00 Upside Down Starter – a unique surprise

22:15 – 2:00 Live music: Juke Records Big Band (BE)

23:00Upside Down Invitational competition

Founded by the trombone player Timothé le Maire in 2019, the Juke Records Big Band will swing your socks off with no less than 14 of the greatest jazz musicians from Brussels. The Juke Records Big Band combines friendship between musicians with the expertise in the jazz music you’ve been dying to hear. Get ready to be blown Upside Down on our third night of the festival. 

18:30 – 21:30 Dinner @ Amour

21:00 – 5:00 DJ Yana

21:00 – 21:30 Prelims Capped Mix & Match

21:30 – 22:00 Upside Down Starter – a unique surprise

22:15 – 23:00 Live music: Swing Kitchen (BE)

23:35 – 2:00 Live music: Reverent Juke (BE)

0:45 Finals Capped Mix & Match

Born in 2015 out of a collaboration between musicians and a lindy hop dancer, Reverent Juke definitely honors the roots of swing. They are infamous for their explosive rhythm section (Tom Lambrecht), the bouncing bass and voice of Andrew Bolton and the wild stride of Julien Gillain. With Martin Bolton on clarinet, Pauline Leblond on the trumpet and Mathieu Najean on reeds they will come back to their place of birth on Saturday night and blow us into fiery flames until we drop.

 

Kitchen swing: What do you get when you invite 5 quirky musicians for an evening of swinging? At Upside Down, pianist Heleen Andriessen will bring a brand new band. Expect a recipe of danceable classics and unknown gems. Heleen, Emilie, Joachim, Lara & Jan serve you graceful melodies and crazy piano jumps on a bed of steady walking and driving drums. Come taste this simmering stew!

18:30 – 21:30 Dinner @ De Expeditie

21:00 – 5:30 DJ Marijke

21:30 – 22:00 Upside Down Starter – a unique surprise

22:15 – 0:00 Live music: Lesters Blues (BE)

0:50 – 3:00 Live music: Jake Walker (BE)

Ghent-based collective Jake Walker originated in the swing dance scene. Swing music connects this group of artists with diverse musical personalities. Renowned for their creativity and dynamics they carry on and enrichen the tradition of jazz music. This local band will tear the house and the festival down.

A swing jazz septet from Belgium formed to pay tribute to the artistry of Lester Young, Count Basie, and their peers, Lester’s Blues made a debut album in 2018 ‘Hommage to Lester Young & the Basie-ites’ and played many jazz venues & dance festivals since. Their second album ‘Radio Rhythm’, which was recorded around one stereo microphone will be released in June 2022.

Monday 22/08 – 20:30

live music: The Early Jivin’ Foxes


Bar Mirwar
Address: Burgstraat 59, 9000 Gent, Belgium

Tuesday 23/08 – 21:00

live music: Creole Gumbo Quartet


Missy Sippy Blues & Roots Club
Address : Klein Turkije 16, 9000 Gent

Monday 29/08 – 21:00

Live music: Birds of Swing


Bar Lume
Address : Vrijdagmarkt 33, 9000 Gent