Coming up May 16 – GottaSwing Dance at Chevy Chase Ballroom!
Click here for some cool video from the Quarry House!

      

"KEEPER OF THE ROCKABILLY FLAME" ~  Joel Sparks, On Tap Magazine

"MASTERS OF RED-HOT ROCKABILLY AND ROWDY HONKY TONK"
 ~ Richard Harrington, The Washington Post

"HONKY TONK THE WAY IT SHOULD BE" ~  Eric Brace, The Washington Post

"NIGHTLIFE AGENDA FAVORITE", "EXCELLENT" ~  Fritz Hahn, The Washington Post

"COUNTRY VOCALIST OF THE YEAR" ~  Washington Area Music Association, 2004 and 2006!

Back before they called it rock and roll they called it Western Bop.  In '55, the first time anyone called Elvis a King, they were calling him The King of Western Bop.  Buddy Holly's first business card advertised "Western & Bop".  Western Bop is where it all comes together --  Rockabilly, Classic Country, and Vintage Honky Tonk.  Western Bop is a flattop acoustic beating time like a big eight-wheeler comin' down the track. It's a bass fiddle getting slapped like there's no tomorrow. Throw in a stinging lead guitar, and you know you've found the right place. 

We're talking about high-energy rockabilly, tear-in-your-beer ballads, and hell-raising honky tonk all rolled into one exciting package.  The Washington Post calls it, "Honky Tonk the way it should be."

Forget the tribute bands, the oldies bands, the camp, and the kitsch. This is the real music, played the way it's supposed to be played -- straight ahead, a little bit blue, and one hell of a lot of fun.

The Washington Area Music Association recently named J.P. McDermott
Country Vocalist of the Year for 2007 --  Thanks for all your support!

 Western Bop is back and its here to stay!

J.P. McDermott & Western Bop are based near Washington, D.C. and play songs by:  
Buddy Holly, Webb Pierce, Johnny Cash, Warren Smith, Roy Orbison, Mac Curtis, Elvis Presley, Ray Price, Stonewall Jackson, Johnny Bush, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hank Williams, Carl Smith, Billy Lee Riley, Lefty Frizzell, Bob Luman, Willie Nelson, Eddy Arnold, Marty Robbins, Wynn Stewart, George Jones, and more, plus great original tunes in the same vein.....


THE SHOWS
 

Saturday
May 10

PRIVATE PARTY
Baltimore, MD

We play private parties, weddings, corporate affairs, fund-raisers, you name it!  Contact J.P. for more info!

Friday
May 16

SWING DANCE!
Chevy Chase Ballroom
5207 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC

Drop-in beginner lesson 8:30-9pm,
Dance 9pm-12midnight
$15

If you're a dancer, you know how much fun these Friday nights at CCB can be -- a swell floor, and a great crowd.  If you've never been, come to the free lesson at 8:30 -- Tom & Debra are a lot of fun, and you'll be dancing with authority by 9:00!

Saturday
May 24

THE QUARRY HOUSE TAVERN
8401 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD
301-587-8350
9:00 pm - 1:00 am
$6 Cover
 
Smoke Free
Dancing:  Yes -- Wooden Dance Floor

Just two blocks from Silver Spring Metro

Get with the full Rockabilly Saturday night schedule at

 
http://www.myspace.com/quarryhouserockabillysaturdaynight

Thursday
May 29

Bethesda Metro Station
Red Line
Bethesda, MD

4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

J.P. plays solo and unamplified at the Bethesda Metro station.  Part of the Metro Performs series.  Stop by and give a listen!

Thursday
June 5

JV RESTAURANT
6666 Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA

703-241-9504
9:00
No Cover

Join us the first Thursday of every month at the friendliest honky tonk inside the beltway. 

Saturday
June 7

THE SURF CLUB
4711 Kenilworth Ave
Bladensburg, MD
301-927-6310

9:00 pm
Admission: $10

Smoke Free
Dancing:  Yes -- Great Wooden Dance Floor!

A rockin’ good time at the last of the PG County Honky Tonks!

Friday
June 20

Silver Spring Metro Station
Red Line
Silver Spring, MD

4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

J.P. plays solo and unamplified at the Silver Spring Metro station.  Part of the Metro Performs series.  Stop by and give a listen!

Saturday
June 28

CRAFTY BASTARDS SHOW
Georgia Ave

Silver Spring, MD

3:30 – 5:00

Live music, crafts, cool stuff. Sponsored by The Washington CityPaper

Saturday
Aug 16

HEMPEN HILL BBQ
Fountain Head Plaza
Right off Route 81 at Exit 9 Hagerstown, MD
9pm  - 1am

Free!

Great food, room to dance and a lively atmosphere make this the best place to be on a Saturday night in Hagerstown.  We’ve played here a couple of times and always had a ball.  Join us, won’t you?

Saturday
Aug 23

STEER INN TAVERN
10514 Racetrack Rd
Berlin, MD
410-208-1900
9pm  - 1am

Free!

It’s not too early to get down to the beach for some Western Bop!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW FOR THESE OTHER UPCOMING SHOWS!

Thu

May-01-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

May-10-08

Private Party

Fri

May-16-08

Chevy Chase Ballroom

Sat

May-24-08

Quarry House Tavern

Fri

May-30-08

Private Party

Sat

May-31-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Jun-05-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

Jun-14-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Jun-28-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Jul-03-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

Jul-05-08

PG Pool

Sat

Jul-12-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Jul-26-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Aug-02-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Aug-07-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

Aug-16-08

Hempen Hill BBQ

Sat

Aug-23-08

Steer Inn

Sat

Aug-30-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Sep-04-08

Clovis Music Festival

Fri

Sep-05-08

Clovis Music Festival

Sat

Sep-06-08

Clovis Music Festival

Sat

Sep-13-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Sep-20-08

Mobtown Greaseball

Sat

Sep-27-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Oct-02-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

Oct-11-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Oct-25-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Nov-06-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

Nov-08-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Nov-22-08

Hempen Hill BBQ

Sat

Nov-29-08

Quarry House Tavern

Thu

Dec-04-08

JV Restaurant

Sat

Dec-13-08

Quarry House Tavern

Sat

Dec-27-08

Quarry House Tavern

 Check back often to see what's coming up.

Click here to sign up for the announcement list.

SOME SHOWS FROM THE RECENT PAST...

Saturday
Jan 26

Winter Dance Party:
A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF BUDDY HOLLY!
Chick Hall’s Surf Club
4711 Kenilworth Ave
Bladensburg, MD
301-927-6310

9:00 pm
Admission: $15

Smoke Free
Dancing:  Yes -- Great Wooden Dance Floor!

CELEBRATION OF BUDDY HOLLY'S LIFE AND MUSIC MARKS 49th ANNIVERSARY OF "THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED"

 J.P. recently appeared on WAMU FM talking about Buddy Holly’s life and music.  Click here to listen!

Click here to check out J.P. talking with internationally known Holly expert Colin Davies

Sixth annual event gets vintage vibe at Chick Hall's Surf Club
 
It's been nearly half a century since the world lost Buddy Holly in a plane crash, but his memory and his music live on.  On Saturday January 26th, the cream of the Washington area music scene will gather at Chick Hall's Surf Club for the sixth annual Winter Dance Party, a celebration of Buddy's incredible songs and his amazing life. 
 
Holly was only 22 years old on that bitter cold night in February 1959, when the light plane he was traveling in crashed in a corn field outside Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all on board, and putting an end to one of the most creative and prolific careers of the rock and roll era. In a scant three years, Buddy left behind nearly 100 recordings, including at least 40 original songs, among them some of the greatest in the rock and roll canon. Though we lost Buddy, songs like "Peggy Sue", "It's So Easy", "Rave On", and "That'll Be The Day" live on through the years.

Among the many acts that have covered Holly songs you'll find The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Linda Rondstadt, The Knack, The Trashmen, Nancy Griffith, Skeeter Davis, The Thirteenth Floor Elevator, The Searchers, The Stray Cats, Conway Twitty, Los Lobos, not to mention the Serendipity Singers, and many more.

The Winter Dance Party will feature Buddy's exciting, fun, and heartfelt music all night long, with diversions into the careers of Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper who also perished in the same plane crash.
 
From The Surf Ballroom to The Surf Club
 
The last venue Holly, Valens, and the Bopper ever played was the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.  It's somehow fitting that this year's party comes to the storied Chick Hall's Surf Club in Bladensburg, MD.  With it's mirror ball, hardwood dance floors, and vintage bandstand, the Surf has the real feel of a great old dance hall.  Lovingly referred to as "the last of the PG County honky tonks", the Surf Club has been the site of many great shows from the time it opened in 1955 right up until today. 

(Believe it or not, this will be the last Saturday night show at the Surf Club.  The Hall family has completed the sale of the property, and will turn it over to the new owners on February 1, 2008).

J.P. McDermott & Western Bop to Host

As it has been every year, the celebration is hosted by Washington Area Music Assocation award winner J.P. McDermott (Best Country Vocalist, Country Recording of the Year). McDermott has an abiding love for Buddy's music, and a vast repertoire including more than 30 Holly tunes. J.P. says, "The Winter Dance Party is always a blast -- we get to play all this fantastic music, share some of Buddy's story, and explore some of the connections and influences he had on rock and roll through the years."

McDermott's versatile and hard-rocking combo, Western Bop (Bob Newscaster, Louie Newmyer, and Tom Bowes), will serve as the house band, backing a plethora of special guests representing some of the finest musicians from the diverse and compelling music scene around Washington and Baltimore.

Artist scheduled to appear include:

J.P. McDermott and Western Bop
The Starlingtons
The Hall Monitors
The Garnet Hearts
ellen cherry
Michael Jantz
Billy Coulter
Dagmar (The Seductones)
The Droptops 
David Kitchen & Andy Rutherford (The Thrillbillys)
Bill Williams
Seth Kibel
Sookey Jump
And maybe even more!
This will be the sixth annual installment of the Buddy Holly celebration. The Winter Dance Party is one of the highlights of the season, gets bigger and better every year, and is one whole heck of a lot of fun. This is a once-a-year chance to hear some of the greatest rock and roll music ever written performed by a wide range of great talent, and dance at a classic venue that dates back to Buddy's time. 

The show starts at 9:00. Admission is $15.00.

Get there early for a good seat!

 

Sunday
April 27

Kensington Day of the Book
Howard Avenue

Kensington, MD

Free
2:30 pm

This is a wonderful street festival, rain or shine. Over 100 local authors, book and paper artists, small press publishers, literary groups, booksellers, and community organizations will set up along two blocks of Howard Avenue in Kensington Md to show, sell, and discuss their books and art.

Music starts at noon with Esther Haynes & Keith Grimes.  Western Bop is at 2:30.

We’ll be right across from the train station in front of the Prevention of Blindness Thrift store.

 

Saturday
Feb 9

SWING DANCE!
Spanish Ballroom
Glen Echo, MD

Drop-in beginner lesson 8:00-9pm,
Dance 9pm-12midnight
$15

A Rockabilly Battle of the Bands :

Rockin’ Bones versus Western Bop!

Our first foray at the storied Spanish Ballroom – you won’t find a better place to dance, or more fun for your entertainment dollar.  Plus, we’re going to win -- Be there to cheer us on!

 

 

Thursday
Feb 14

Holiday Park Senior Center
3950 Ferrara Drive
Wheaton, MD
1:15 p.m.

Tickets: $2.00

Red-Hot Rockabilly Valentine’s Day Dance!

This is open to the public, and seniors are especially encouraged to come on by and dance!

 

Thursday
Feb 14

HEAD OVER HEELS
Old Town Hall
3999 University Dr, Fairfax
7:30 - 8:00: complimentary swing lesson
Western Bop at 8:00

Evening Valentine’s Dance!

Have a nice dinner somewhere, then bring your sweetheart out for some dancing on the fine hardwood floor at the Old Town Hall in Fairfax.  Our first time there!

 

Saturday
Jan 5

NICK LOWE TRIBUTE
The Barns At Wolf Trap

SOLD OUT!

 

Saturday
Nov 3

SWING DANCE!
CityDance Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda,
MD

Drop-in beginner swing workshop 7:30-8pm
Dance 8-10:45pm

$15

A fantastic room for dancing.  If you've never been, come to the free lesson at 7:30 -- you'll be dancing by 8:00!

 

Saturday
March 9

McGINTY’S PUBLIC HOUSE
911 Ellsworth Drive
Silver Spring, MD
8:30-10:30pm
$10

Dancing:  Yes – Large Wood Dance Floor!

Finally -- live music Sunday nights in Silver Spring! 

Full bar, good food, and a good dance floor.  The perfect end to a good weekend.

Dancing is permitted, and encouraged, but not required.  A GottaSwing production, hosted by:

 

Sunday
Oct 7

TAKOMA PARK STREET FESTIVAL
Carroll Avenue,
Takoma Park, MD
(240)253-4229
10 am - 5pm
(Rain or Shine)

Metro: Red Line to Takoma Park

Western Bop at 1 pm at the Dance Stage
 
Dancing: Yes, on pavement

The best street festival around -- great food, cool vendors, and 18 bands take over the streets of Takoma Park for a Sunday -- this is the 26th annual.

Some of the great music scheduled:  Joe Uehline, Patty Reese, Billy Coulter, One Horse Town, The Alexandria Kleztet,  Tommy Lepson, The Nighthawks, Robert Lighthouse, and more!

We're on the big stage just up the street from the Takoma Park Metro at 1:00 -- a fine chance to see Western Bop outdoors in the daylight!

(Takoma Park is a great place to find cool stuff -- beside all the vendors at the street fest, you'll find the great shops that line Carroll Ave -- places like Glad Rags! where you can find all sorts of interesting clothes, from vintage to modern.)

 

 

Saturday
Oct 6

WEDDING
Stevensville, MD

We play private parties, weddings, corporate affairs, fund-raisers, you name it!  Contact J.P. for more info!

 

Saturday
Sept 22

MOBTOWN GREASEBALL
Putty Hill Station
2531 Putty Hill Ave.
Parkville,
MD