Community Calendar

The Spokane Jazz Orchestra invites you to open their 50th season celebrating the moments and milestones that brought us here. You will see familiar faces such as Tom Molter and Dan Keberle who have helped to make the SJO what it is today. We look forward to sharing the creativity that continues to define the SJO!

Lilac City Stomp is a celebration of swing dance and live jazz music with a full day of instruction, performance, and community in the historic Marie Antoinette Ballroom at the Davenport Hotel, a room built in the very era these dances were born.

The majority of the day is free and open to the public. Whether you’ve never tried swing dancing or you’ve been on the floor for years, there is something here for you. Beginners are especially welcome.

Our basic schedule is:

10am to 1pm: Free dance instruction

2pm to 3:30pm: Matinee performance - live music, dance performances, and open dancing

4:30pm to 6:30pm: Open dancing

7pm to 10pm: Ticketed evening showcase - the full experience including open dancing, live music, dance performances, jam circles, and more.

Special guest artists include:

Undre Reed - guest dance instructor

Jonathan Doyle and Lauryn Gould - guest bandleaders

Presented by Hot Club of Spokane and Woodside Swing Spokane, with nationally recognized guest artists joining our local musicians and instructors for a day of performance, mentorship, and community.

The SJO will be ringing in the holiday season with a crowd favorite. The iconic music of American jazz pianist Vincent Guaraldi. Vince composed music for the beloved television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. These melodies soon became known all around the world for the joyful feelings they carry. Jazz vocalist Kristina Ploeger-Hekmatpanah returns to the SJO, joined by the EWU Collegians for a special local collaboration. A show you definitely will not want to miss!

Finally, a holiday show with swagger. Dubbed a “10-piece Jazz sensation” (LA Weekly) and led by charismatic siren Lizzy. Los Angeles’ hottest swing band (LA Fox 11) skips into town with holiday standards as you’ve never heard before, arranged by Lizzy’s music director and former Benny Goodman arranger and band member Dan Barrett. Swing into the holidays and bring your dancing shoes – there will be a floor!

https://gonzagaperformingarts.evenue.net/events/GMS1218

Calling all Deadheads! The Spokane Jazz Orchestra will be performing the music of the Grateful Dead, the iconic band revered for their fused elements of rock, blues and jazz. The Seattle-based Andy Coe Band lit up our stage with their improvisational energy in March 2018, and our patrons wanted seconds in our new venue. Led by guitarist Andy Coe, the band features Don Goodwin’s brother, Scott, on drums.