Musical guest: The Big Dixie Swingers

The roots of western swing can be found in the titles of early record catalogues: race and hillbilly.  Either black or white, it was the sound of rural America hearing itself for the first time.  Interpreting the hits of the day, or offering a bit of what they had to say.  I call it “the treatment.”  Making any damn thing as danceable and fun as you were able. And it still happens in New Orleans to this day. You can hear talented musicians on every corner, happily re-inventing the wheel.