Millwinders Archives

This is the final post on my recent trip to Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend #17. You can see Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday by clicking on the day.

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Sunday is normally the big “Pool Party” day but as I mentioned in one of my earlier posts I was not going to be able to attend Sunday’s party due to wanting to support and dance to a favorite Toronto band “The Millwinders” who were playing at 1:00pm.

But before we could dance till we dropped we needed fuel and that meant Easter Brunch with my friends and my family. I made sure to wear something very Easter like for the day.

Viva Las Vegas 17 — Vintage 1940s dress purchased on Etsy. New Saddle Shoes from Etsy. Purse from Dungaree Dolly’s Bags and Purses

At Brunch my mom spoiled my friends and I with TONS of chocolate & candy to keep us fueled I think for the next year. Thanks MOM! Thank goodness I was going to be dancing later lol!

Easter Brunch at Viva Las Vegas 17 — mmmm Easter goodies

Now it’s Millwinders time!

The put on such a good show (as usual), and I was so impressed with the amazing turnout too! Sometimes this time slot can be tricky because so many people want to hit up the pool party but I really felt that people really came out and showed their support this time. Thanks!!

Once the performance was done, we tried to gather as many of the “Canadians” that were at the show for a group picture (Thanks Jerry for the photo).

I think we clean up nicely, if I do say so myself.

Millwinders done…now it’s shopping time! I tend to wait till Sunday to go shopping because I’m not a huge fan of fighting people for space to see items on racks so I wait. Hey if I did not see it, I cannot miss it is my personal theory when shopping at Viva. I have gotten lucky every year with finding something and this year was no different.

I purchased the following items (with images NOT taken at Viva):

This mint condition late 1940s dress. I was in love with the yellow accents.

late 1940s vintage dress — Photo Credit: Tai Heng

A Mode Merr skirt. The fabric is vintage, made into a new skirt and the back the button is a heart.

This is my third skirt from Mode Merr, and it will not be my last. I 100% recommend their clothes and the owner is just a doll as well.

Vintage Scarf for my hair. Sorry for the blurry iPhone pic but this is the only image I have of my vintage scarf in action. I love the checkered pattern…a lot.

Now that I spent all my money, we then chilled till it was time for the Jive Contest in the Main Ballroom. I love the Jive Contest because I love dancing and I love seeing all the fantastic skirts whirl around on the dance floor.

Everyone did an amazing job and I had a couple of favorites which I will keep to myself (because they did not get in to the finals) but overall I was uber impressed.

Once we finished it was time to change and get ready for the final evening at Viva..NOOO!!!! I was really excited for this evening though because I was going to get to see not 1 and not 2 but 4 Rockabilly Sun Records legends on the stage at one time. Sonny Burgess, Carl Mann, Hayden Thompson, Narvel Felts.

But before that big number I was treated to a band earlier in the evening that I had never heard of before but boy was I glad I did because they were fantastic!

Rumble King

After I calmed down from dancing to such a great band it was time to settle in for the big Sun Records show which ended up being the highlight of my whole weekend. Especially when all of them got up on stage to sing together, which I’m pretty sure I will never see again.

And that my friends is a wrap for Viva Las Vegas 17. I hope you enjoyed my posts on the weekend and hopefully I will see you at next years Viva 18.

Liz 🙂

Continuation of “What I did this Summer” posts

The next event that I attended this summer was called “Bop n Bowl” and it was a Rockabilly weekender right here in Toronto, this past July.

The first night started at the Press Club with Canada’s favorite wild man “Bloodshot Bill”

Bloodshot Bill (all photos courtesy of Dean Villafuerte)

Thank goodness for my friend Dean and his camera because I only ever saw the top of Bloodshot Bills head during his set.

It was a good crowd for the first night.

My friends were all having a good time..I think lol (there is me in the back in the green accidentally photo bombing the pic)

There are two things I like to do when I go out to a Rockabilly night: 1. Dance 2. Have a drink or two. Clearly I’m at my max.

Day 2

Day 2 had some really great Vintage and Reproduction vendors, rock n roll dance classes and even a on-site barber set up during the day at Lee Palace’s. I did not purchase any dresses (dang budget) but I got a very cute hair piece for VIVA next year, woo hoo!

The Evening consisted of a night of amazing music from three outstanding bands.

First band to play is a personal favorite Toronto band of mine called the “Swingin Blackjacks“. If you are ever in Toronto I recommend you seeking out one of their shows, you will not be disappointed and if you like to dance they are perfect for dancing.

Next up was another Favorite Toronto Band- “The Millwinders“.

They are really really good (and such a good Rockabilly dance band too) and have performed at VIVA Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender 2 years ago and have been asked back for 2014 as well. Can’t WAIT to see them perform there.

The only female member of the band “Sarah” is insanely beautiful and super talented. She sings, plays the bass and rocks the best vintage/reproduction fashions I have ever seen. She has some wicked style that I could only hope will one day rub off on me along with one of her many awesome Bakelite bracelets 🙂

After the Millwinders, we were treated to a really cool musician in the form of “Jittery Jack with “Miss Amy“.

The Review of the headerliner….Jittery Jack was OUTSTANDING! OMG…why have I not seen this guy before? Like seriously, what is wrong with me? lol. Go see this man if you can, you will not be disappointed! Such a good show and Miss Amy was really good as well. Totally an amazing way to end the music portion of the event.

For the evening I wore my brand new “Glamour Bunny Sarong Dress” that I had been drooling over for like a year online. I finally was able to purchase it when the new store “Rosie the Rebel” brought it in just for me! Umm not quite but since it fit me like a glove I like to think it was just for me.

Once again here is another “Liz drinking pic” and once again I’m clearly already at my 1 or 2 drink max here 😉

Here are some dancing pictures from the evening. I danced a lot and my poor feet were hurting by the time the evening ended. Always a good sign I think!

Day 3-The Bowling portion of the event

You were probably wondering when I was going to get to the “Bowl” portion of this weekend. Well do not fear it is here but first I will share a picture of the Car Show we had outside of the bowling alley.

Bowling time! This was such a fun way to end the weekend, everyone in our group had such a blast, as you can see below.

Seriously though we had a really good time playing the game and playing it very badly I might add, but I partially blame the bad bowling on the broken lanes. Do you see a problem below? lol

As we got into the game we noticed that some of us had some very good form.

and some of us had no form, like me!

But we cheered everyone on no matter what and I think everyone was a winner, expect maybe me and my husband and that guy further down the lane…

Photo Courtesy of Sue Shadoff

Sadly though all good things must come to an end and we headed home but I am really looking forward to next year and hope that the awesome Alissa (see below) decides to run this event again. Thanks for a good weekend!

Liz 🙂

Tag: Millwinders

My VIVA Las Vegas Vacation-Day 5 and last day (Sunday)

Toronto’s first Rockabilly “Bop n Bowl” Weekender Event