Phillip Island Jazz presents Skiffle Party at the Bowling Club in Cowes, on Sunday October 16 from 2pm.

Skiffle is a high energy upbeat American roots music in the style of UK proto-rockers Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber, and the Vipers Skiffle Group. It was the birth of British Rock.

Donegan’s blistering 1954 hot recording of Leadbelly’s Rock Island Line started the UK skiffle craze that inspired countless musicians to pick up the guitar, an instrument that was hitherto largely ignored by British popular music.

The Beatles, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page and the Bee Gees all started their musical career as skifflers, exploring the rich tradition of American  hillbilly and blues from Leadbelly to Woody Guthrie. Classic skiffle tunes include upbeat sing-along versions of many well-known traditional folk songs such as John Henry, Stewball, Cumberland Gap, Lost John, Midnight Special and Maggie May.

Just as skiffle originally arose out of the UK trad jazz scene, Skiffle Party’s members met in Melbourne’s trad and gypsy jazz scene. Featuring Floyd Thursby on vocals/guitar, Tom Flenady on double bass/vocals and Adam Russo on lead guitar/vocals, the band’s debut album was recorded live without overdubs in a shed in Northcote onto 8-track 1/2 inch tape.

All the Skiffle standards will be performed including gems like “My Old Man’s A Dustman” and “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour On The Bed Post Overnight”.

Floyd Thursby, lead vocals and rhythm guitar, is a songwriter, composer and experienced performer in the popular music of many cultures. He also performs with the acclaimed French gypsy jazz ensemble La Mauvaise Reputation (under the name Paul Gillet), and solo as a singer-songwriter.

Tom Flenady, double bass and vocalist, has been performing music that is rooted in skiffle for as long as he can remember. When not playing skiffle, Tom can be found on the bandstand performing jazz from the early days of New Orleans, to the modern, original compositions.

Adam Russo, lead guitar and vocals, has been quietly carving a niche for himself amongst Melbourne's jazz scene for more than ten years, specialising in the swinging guitar style of the 1920s to 1950s.

He can be found most nights gigging around town, as part of jazz manouche trio “Catfish”, Italian dance band “Dai, Ciccio” and Skiffle Party.

Skiffle Party perform at Phillip Island Bowling Club, 40 Dunsmore Road, Cowes on October 16 from 2pm. Tickets $15 for members and $20 for visitors.

For more information contact Robin Blackman 0432 814 407 or Jill Boyce on 0417 416 300.