River City Mess Around Celebrates St. Louis Jazz and Dance Styles

As the 4th of July fireworks fade from the sky, a contingent of St. Louisans and jazz fanatics from over 30 other cities will prepare to enjoy sparks flying a bit closer to the ground. The seventh annual River City Mess Around spans the weekend of July 5-7, and features six local jazz and swing bands for a dancing audience. The band line-up is a true reflection of St. Louis’ long-standing, and diverse jazz music identity, with each group representing a necessary flavor of danceable jazz music. The weekend begins on Friday July 5th with The Sidemen performing in the Architecture Room of the City Museum, an inimitable downtown attraction and source of great civic and artistic pride in St. Louis. Typically, dancers take turns sliding around the dance floor, and sliding down the myriad chutes placed throughout this urban playground. The Sidemen, featuring veteran reed player Eric Sager, produce grooves that range from Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton’s small group swing—think “Air Mail Special” and “Flyin’ Home”—to Louis Prima’s later honking, jumping swing. No doubt, the dancers will be executing their prized steps in lindy hop, swing Charleston, and balboa. Following this dance event, revered local DJ Cindy Lyons will be playing canned classic and contemporary swing music for a relaxed late night dance party. In the traditional jazz realm, the Arcadia Dance Orche