First Fridays in The Canal District presents: THE HIP SWAYERS

Live on The Crompton Place Patio
5-8pm - Free and open to the public

Crompton Place shops open late till 8pm:

Crompton Collective
The White Room Art Gallery
Bedlam Book Cafe
Seed to Stem
Haberdash Worcester
BirchTree Bread Co. (9pm)

-- About First Fridays in The Canal District:

The Canal District is the nightlife hub of Central Mass, any given night find bars and restaurants teeming with life, live music, food and good spirits. Visit the Canal District on First Fridays to sample all this vibrant, walkable and stimulating neighborhood has to offer!

At The Crompton Place Building (138 Green Street) retail shops will be open late till 8pm for late night shopping fun; Crompton Collective, The White Room Art Gallery, Bedlam Book Cafe, Seed to Stem, Haberdash Worcester, BirchTree Bread Co. (open till 9pm)

-- About The Hip Swayers

Hailing from the hills of West Tatnuck, the Hip Swayers are a good time, get up and dance band. Their music combines tight rhythms, searing solos and soulful harmonies in an eclectic mix of catchy originals, old time country, and twangy, reverb-soaked surf that keeps your toes tapping and your hips swaying.

Dave Blodgett, vocals and guitar

It's been said that Dave was born singing. True or not, Dave's passion and versatility can be heard belting out tunes from The Louvin Brothers, Johnny Cash, Lefty, Hank, and the Merles, as well as his own carefully crafted compositions. His finger-picking guitar style echoes that of the great Merle Travis.

Toni Ostrow, bass and vocals

Post-punk proto-grunge thrasher turned roots rock devotee, Toni holds down the bottom that drives the band. Her interpretations of Patti Smith and Melba Montgomery tunes and her own Kerouac inspired lyrics contribute to the band's eclectic repertoire.

Dave Niles, guitar, slide, lap steel

A legend in his own mind, Dave is a master of many styles and techniques, some of them even noteworthy. Hailing from Boston (or New Hampshire, we're not really sure), he grew up listening to Clyde Joy, Rex Trailer, Ricky Nelson and anything British.

Mark Cherrington, drums

Mark has blessed stages from Beantown to Buffalo and Omaha to Santa Fe. His relentless pursuit of the perfect backbeat can be heard on any given night, even when he's relaxing at home. A westerner at heart (he lives somewhere in the Pioneer Valley), his playing conjures up dusty roads, cattle drives and the wide open prairie on the outskirts of Amherst.