contemporary and historical English country dance music The members of Bangers & Mash at Fezziwig's Warehouse at the Dickens Fair, December 2001 (counter-clockwise): Susan Kramer--flute, recorders, vocals and percussion Stanley Kramer--violin, recorder, string bass David Strong--violin and viola Craig Johnson--piano, accordion (and other keyboards, too, being the author of this site.)

The Band | Upcoming Events | Our CD: "Breakfast at Fezziwig's" | Have us play your event
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Last updated on Sunday, July 31, 2009.
NOTE: You can now reach this page at http://www.bangersandmash.us.

Bangers and Mash started playing together in 1994, and have been performing music for English country and historical couple dancing ever since. We're regulars at events for PEERS (the Period Events and Entertainment Recreation Society) as well as for BACDS (the Bay Area Country Dance Society).

We've done a number of formal balls, as well as playing for innumerable dance series. For the past three years, we've performed at Fezziwig's Warehouse, the community dance stage of the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco. We also play weddings, parties and private dances, of course. Feel free to use the links in the photo caption to contact any of us for more information about the band's availability...

This is our friends at PEERS' annual afternoon dance, with no admission charge. Inspired by "The Music Man"'s Ice Cream Sociable, the event will be outdoors, and the era will be turn of the century (1890s to 1914). Bring your own picnic, eat on the grass, and stay for the dancing. As with all PEERS events, costume is "admired but not required" and all dancing will be taught. To find out more, see the River City Picnic Dance website.

Saturday, September 5
PEERS Space Cowboy's Ball
Masonic Lodge of San Mateo
1090 N Ellsworth (at Tilton), San Mateo
7:45 to midnight

Set in the distant future, a gathering for those nostalgic for those the Old West, Old Earth Asian, and classic and neo-19th century modes. All these come together for this ball, for Browncoats and their supporters.Victorian dance music, as well as a bit of the Celtic and classic waltz repertoire. For more details, see the website.

Sunday, September 27
BACDS San Francisco English Dance Opening Party
DanceGround Keriac
1805 Divisadero (at Bush)
Doors open at 2pm, dance until 5pm

Join us in this walkup ballroom in the heart of SF for the reopening of the BACDS San Francisco English Dance, with an afternoon of dances chosen and taught by Lise Dyckman. We'll be doing set dances written over the last 450 years, all of which need no prior experience (everything will be taught). Like all BACDS events, you don't need to bring a partner, and you can dance in whatever you're comfortable in, although we do ask that you bring a pair of dance shoes that are not used for regular wear outside, to protect the 100 year old floor. For more information, contact Craig at the email address above.

Saturday, October 3
PEERS Sweeney Todd's Ball
Masonic Lodge of San Mateo
1090 N Ellsworth (at Tilton), San Mateo
7:45 to midnight

In which the Peerless Music Hall throws a light-hearted ball in celebration of the musical play about The Demon Barber. Set in Victorian London, not to be confused with Mr. Sondheim's wonderful but more recent opera, and the resulting film. We'll be performing Victorian dance music, as well as accompanying a selection of songs. For more details, see the event website.

Saturday, November 7
Le Bal des Vampires
Alameda Elks Lodge
2255 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda
7:45 to midnight

The 16th annual Bal des Vampires features two floors of dancing, and we'll be in the upstairs ballroom playing haunting waltzes, as well as four centuries' worth of dance tunes, ranging from country dances of the 1600s to modern show tunes--for our guests who've been around considerably longer than that! This is the most elegant event that PEERS puts on, but as always, costume is "admired but not required". For more information, see PEERS' website, as well as an indepth look at costuming the event from a few years ago, a feature article published October 28th, 2007, in the San Francisco Chronicle's Style section (where else?).

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010, 8pm
PEERS' Victorian 12th Night Ball
Location TBA

The final party of the 2009 Dickens Fair, this old time holiday party and dance is hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig. Come in your Victorian finery, or in modern evening attire. There is a dance lesson an hour before the dance starts, or you can practice early by going to the Dickens Fair itself. As a special treat, there will be a special intermission performance by the Peerless Music Hall. For more information, please see the event webpage on the PEERS site.

Our first CD is a 24-cut collection of our favorite country and couple dances, recorded in real time and at dance length before a live audience. The tunes range from Playford tunes of the 1650s to recently composed waltzes. Named "Breakfast at Fezziwig's" in honor of our friends at the Dickens Fair. It's now available for purchase! For information about the content as well as how to order, check out the Breakfast at Fezziwig's webpage