Sam Carroll
DJing for Swing Dancers
I have been DJing for swing dancers since 2005. Today I'm based in Sydney, Australia, but travel all over the country and world to DJ.
If you need my biography or photos of me for your PR, you'll find them on my media pack page.
What do I play?
Hot jazz and swing music from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Jay McShann, Lucky Millinder, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams, Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson. Small band, big band, hot jazz, trad jazz, swinging, Kansas, New Orleans, New York.... I like it all.
I do play later music. Who doesn't love the wall of sound that is Count Basie's big band in 1950s hi-fi? And I love listening to live bands, which means supporting them by buying and playing their recordings too.
Head DJ and band coordinator
Large events need teams of DJs and dozens of musicians, playing hours of specialised music. And keeping them all organised.
I've held this role for lots of Australian events over the past twenty years, and I can help you wrangle your DJs and musicians too.
DJing C.V.
Workshops and panels
Yes, I do teach workshops and classes!
I can deliver lectures, small group seminars, or practical workshops on DJing, and managing DJs and bands (and events!)
What do we do in a workshop?
My favourite type of workshop is practical, with hands-on activities. Exploring mixing desks, plugging and unplugging gear, coiling cables.
I want everyone (particulary women and girls and nonbinary folk) to try these things in a casual, low-pressure environment.
What do I value, as a DJ and as a teacher?
- Taking care of ourselves.
How to: handle electrical equipment; prevent and respond to sexual harassment, sexism, and racism; negotiate pay and breaks. - Taking care of the music.
How to: combine songs and musical styles; manage volume; use sound gear. - Taking care of the dancers.
How to: work a wave; understand how the crowd is feeling; watch for safety and comfort.
DJing workshop C.V.
Previous DJing sets
Yep, there are a lot.
I have DJed at some of the biggest events in the lindy hopping world, playing for 1500 dancers in ballrooms the size of football fields. But I've also DJed for tiny parties with a handful of dancers. I've DJed on boats in the Danube River, tents in the Swedish countryside, mansions in the Austrian mountains, crowded bars in Seoul, a Spiegeltent in Melbourne, and in the hills of Christchurch.
It's the best job I've ever had.
2023 August 23 guest DJ, Evita's Dance, Sydney, 15 July guest DJ and competition DJ, SwingTime's Winter Ball, Sydney, June 25 guest DJ, Rhythm Korea, Seoul, March 12, guest DJ Evita's dance, Sydney.
2021 March 19, guest DJ Global Online Social March 5, guest DJ Track Town Swing (remote DJing by zoom) February 22, guest DJ Platter Splatter Radio, Sydney (in-studio DJing) February 8, guest DJ Hong Kong Swings, Hong Kong (remote DJing by Zoom) February 2, guest DJ San Antonio Swing Society Listening Party, Texas (remote DJing by Zoom).
2020 December 30, guest DJ at Track Town Swing Party, Oregan (remote DJing by Zoom) November 21, guest DJ at Global Swing Social, USA (remote DJing by Zoom) November 14, staff DJ at Melbourne Lindy Exchange, Melbourne (remote DJing by Zoom) October 22, guest DJ at Global Swing Social, USA (remote DJing by Zoom) October 16, staff DJ at Jazz Together, Melbourne (remote DJing by Zoom) COVID February 22, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's January 8, guest DJ Chicago Studio, Stockholm.
2019 December, staff DJ Snowball, Sweden November 22-24, staff DJ at Melbourne Lindy Exchange November 16, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's, Sydney November 2, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Weekend October 12, staff DJ Rhythm Jam, Sydney October 11, guest DJ at Swingpit, Sydney October 5, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's September 14, staff DJ Sydney Bal Weekend August 12, guest DJ at Strictly Bal on Sundays Social, Sydney August 4, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's July, staff DJ Herräng Dance Camp week 3, Sweden June 18, guest DJ Big Apple Swing Bar, Seoul June 2, guest DJ at Strictly Bal on Sundays Social June 15-16, staff DJ at Rhythm Korea, Seoul June 1, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's May 25, guest DJ at Swingpit May, head DJ Jazz BANG, Sydney April 6, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's March 22, guest DJ at Swingpit March 2, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's February 9, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's.
2018 August 19, guest balboa DJ at Strictly Bal on Sundays Social August, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's July, staff DJ Herräng Dance Camp week 4 July 9, guest DJ at Fruity Hop Burgring, Vienna July 8, guest DJ at Badeschiff Swing The Boat, Vienna July 5, guest DJ at Café & Luftschloss Cobenzl, Vienna June, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's April 28, guest DJ at Swing Pit April 19, guest balboa DJ at Sydney Shuffle Club March 16, guest DJ at Swingin' at Ruby's February 2, guest balboa DJ at Balboa at Ruby's January 19, guest DJ at Swingin at Ruby's.
2017 December 13, staff DJ Swing Dance Sydney End of Year Party November 4, guest DJ, Swingin at Ruby's October, staff DJ Seoul Lindyfest September, guest DJ, Lindy hop at Ruby's Dance Hall September, guest balboa DJ, Balboa at Ruby's Dance Hall July, staff DJ at Herräng Dance Camp week 4 May, Head DJ Little Big Weekend February, head DJ Jazz with Ramona, Sydney Head DJ and Manager, Swinging at the PBC, Sydney House DJ and manager Harlem, Sydney.
2016 December, staff DJ Sweet n Hot, Melbourne November, staff DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange October, staff DJ Seoul Lindy Fest September, guest DJ Swing Pit July, staff DJ at Herräng Dance Camp February, staff DJ For Dancers Only, Sydney January, guest DJ Stockholm Swing Society Jan House DJ and manager Harlem.
2015 December, volunteer DJ The Snowball, Sweden November, staff DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange October, head DJ Little Big Weekend, Sydney September, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange August, invited DJ Strictly Bal on Sundays Social July, staff DJ Herräng Dance Camp June, invited DJ Strictly Bal on Sundays Social February, staff DJ Sydney International Swing Dance Festival February, guest DJ Authentic Jazz Weekend Seoul Korea House DJ and manager Harlem House DJ Swing Pit.
2014 November, staff DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange October, head DJ Jazz BANG October, guest DJ University of Sydney Swing Club Halloween Party July, staff DJ Herräng Dance Camp May, guest DJ Lindy in the Park, Sydney April, staff DJ Jumptown Jam, Canberra April, invited DJ Christchurch Swing Festival March, invited DJ Imperial Swing, Sydney February, staff DJ For Dancers Only, Sydney House DJ and manager Hot Foot Stomp, Sydney House DJ Swing Pit.
2013 December, head DJ Little Big Weekend November, head DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange October, head DJ and manager Hot Foot Stomp September, invited DJ Speakeasy, Sydney September, guest DJ Sydney Fringe Jazz Dance July, invited DJ Imperial Swing June, head DJ Melbourne Swing Festival May, head DJ and manager Little Big Weekend April, staff DJ Hullabaloo, Perth April, staff DJ Jumptown Jam, Canberra January, guest DJ Imperial Swing House DJ Roxbury, Sydney House DJ Swing Pit.
2012 November, staff DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange September, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange August, guest DJ Imperial Swing August, staff DJ Canberräng, Canberra August, guest DJ Speakeasy, Sydney July, guest DJ Jook Joint Blues, Sydney May, guest DJ Meet the Scene Ball, Sydney May, invited DJ Shiny Stockings, Melbourne May, guest DJ Jook Joint Blues April, guest DJ Anzac Blues, Sydney March, staff DJ Sweet and Hot, Melbourne March, guest DJ Speakeasy January, guest DJ Speakeasy House DJ Roxbury House DJ Swing Pit.
2011 December, guest DJ Speakeasy November, head DJ, Melbourne Lindy Exchange October, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange September, guest DJ Performance Ball, Sydney September, competition DJ Melbourne Swing Festival Solo Jazz Contest July, guest DJ Speakeasy June, head DJ Melbourne Swing Festival June, guest DJ, Yehoodi Radio, USA May, invited DJ, Frankie's Shiny Stockings Ball, Melbourne May, guest DJ Speakeasy January, guest DJ Speakeasy House DJ Blues House DJ Roxbury House DJ Swing Pit.
2010 December, guest DJ Christmas Party, Sydney November, head DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange November, staff DJ Sydney Swing Festival October guest DJ Speakeasy October, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange August, staff DJ Cänberrang July, guest DJ Speakeasy June, head DJ, Melbourne Swing Festival June, staff DJ Sydney Balboa Festival June, competition DJ Melbourne Swing Festival solo charleston April, guest DJ Speakeasy April, guest DJ Meet the Scene After Party, Sydney March, staff DJ Jumptown Jam, Canberra February, staff DJ Blues Before Sunrise, Melbourne February, guest DJ Melbourne Blues Night House DJ Blues House DJ Roxbury House DJ Swing Pit.
2009 December, guest DJ Christmas Party, Sydney November, staff DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange October, head DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange September, head DJ Sydney Swing Festival August, staff DJ Cänberrang August, guest DJ Birthday Ball, Sydney August, guest DJ Birthday Ball After Party, Sydney June, staff DJ Devil City Swing, Hobart May, staff DJ Sydney Balboa Festival House DJ Broadway, Sydney House DJ Blues at Broadway, Sydney House DJ Roxbury House DJ Swing Pit.
2008 December, guest DJ Christmas Party, Melbourne November, head DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange November, staff DJ Sydney Swing Festival October, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange August, staff DJ Canberräng July, staff DJ Australian Jitterbug Contest After Party, Melbourne June, staff DJ Blues Before Sunrise, Melbourne June, staff DJ Devil City Swing, Hobart April, guest DJ Melbourne Blues Night April, guest DJ Madame Dynamite, Melbourne March, staff DJ Melbourne Swing Festival February, guest DJ Swing Rave, Melbourne House DJ Fun Pit, Melbourne.
2007 November, head DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange November, DJ Spiegletent, Melbourne August, guest DJ Meet the Scene Ball After Party, Melbourne July, guest DJ Melbourne Blues Night June, staff DJ Devil City Swing April, staff DJ Hullabaloo, Perth March, staff DJ Melbourne Swing Festival House DJ Fun Pit House DJ CBD, Melbourne.
2006 November, head DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange November, staff DJ Sydney Lindy Exchange October, November, December, House DJ Spiegletent, Melbourne July, guest DJ Hobart Swing Ball May, guest DJ Meet the Scene After Party, Melbourne House DJ Fun Pit House DJ CBD.
2005 November, Blues After Party DJ Melbourne Lindy Exchange