But don't take our word for it....

We tout ourselves to be among “the world’s premier swing dance bands”, and we count ourselves lucky to play many of the best Lindy Hop and Balboa events around the globe, but don’t take out word for it….

The folks behind Lindy Blossom Weekend in Seoul put together a blog post featuring testimonials from some of the world’s top swing dance instructors and musicians. We didn’t have anything to do with it, so we were humbled and delighted by their comments. You can read the whole thing here: https://lindyblossom.wordpress.com/band/why/

But here’s what those nice folks said:

Nathan Bugh:

Jonathan Stout, leading the band at Lindy Focus, has presented the best, live, swing music I have ever heard!

Laura Glaess:

Jonathan Stout is one of the most charismatic and well-respected band leaders playing for lindy hoppers today. His song selection is swinging and his musicians are among the best in the world. However, one of the main things that makes Jonathan Stout so special is that his is a dancer. He understands the flow of a good night. He understands the amount of energy we need to swing out and the feeling we need to make it swing. He’s given me some of the best dance nights of my life. Go hear his band.

Nick Williams:

Jonathan Stout has continually put forth my favorite live swing music in the world today. His Campus Five will inspire and drive you.

Ramona Staffeld:

It’s so easy to say nice things about Jonathan Stout and his band. He plays music for dancers, he knows what we want. His eye and ear for detail is extremely meticulous, and it shows in his good taste, and good humour. It’s simple, his band plays music that actually makes it easier to dance. Swing is a force, an underlying current that moves things along, and drives it home. His song choice, band members, and love for dancing all makes for the perfect night. DO NOT MISS IT!

Michael Gamble:

Jonathan Stout is one of only a tiny handful of bandleaders that truly gets what it means to run a swing-era dance band. He knows that it’s not just the songs, but the players, the arrangements, and the leadership which gives a band that infectious energy, and no one works as hard as Jonathan at making that happen. Jonathan’s name should sit comfortably at the top of ANYONE’s list who’s trying to bring top-tier live swing music back to life, and in front of dancers. An opportunity to dance to the Campus Five is an opportunity to practice swing dancing the way it was meant to be done.

Paul Cosentino:

Jonathan created his band and his music for lindy hop and balboa dancers. Every song will make you want to dance!! The music is high energy and done with the classic style in mind at all times. Jonathan always has wonderful soloists as well who will inspire you to move. You will enjoy this band!

Campus Five Merch NOW AVAILABLE at Bandcamp

Our new T-Shirts, with design by Chris Wilkinson, in BLACK, MAROON and NAVY

Our new T-Shirts, with design by Chris Wilkinson, in BLACK, MAROON and NAVY

Check out our bandcamp store at campusfive.bandcamp.com for all of our new merch, featuring "Spreadin' Rhythm Around"-inspired designs from Chris Wilkinson (on instagram: @stuffbycw). 

The stickers, buttons and posters are all available now, and the shirts will be going up shortly. 

Stickers in Blue/Orange/Green

Stickers in Blue/Orange/Green

"Spreadin' Rhythm Around" Promo Poster

"Spreadin' Rhythm Around" Promo Poster

2.25" Campus Five Button

2.25" Campus Five Button

"Spreadin' Rhythm Around" - Podcast Roundup

Check out these three podcasts featuring our new album "Spreadin' Rhythm Around":

Hey Mr. Jesse - Jesse Miner and Manu Smith feature several new releases, including our "Spreadin' Rhythm Around", as well as new records from Gordon Webster, and Chelsea Reed. Dig!

No Cover - A podcast from the Vintage Swing Review, specifically featuring original compositions by new swing bands. This episode features an interview with Jonathan about the tension in creating original compositions for originalists like the Campus Five. 

Jitterbug Jukebox - "Professor" Marshall Watson and Duke Skellington talk about music from the 1920's-1940's as well as modern electro swing. This episode features a tune from our new album, specifically, "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me". 

Jonathan Stout Interviewed on the "No Cover" Podcast

This month's Episode of the "No Cover" form the Vintage Swing Revue, features an interview with Jonathan Stout and several tracks from "Spreadin' Rhythm Around". The "No Cover" podcast as all about new, original compositions in the swing world.

From the Vintage Swing Review:

“No Cover” is a monthly presentation of Vintage Swing Review exploring the very best original compositions in new vintage swing and traditional jazz from today’s top artists!” 

Some of the issues discussed include the history of the band, and the challenge of incorporating original compositions for a band so staunchly rooted in the songs and style of the original era. 

Listen HERE: http://www.vintageswingreview.com/jonathan-stout-interview-june-2017

Jonathan Stout Interviewed on "The Track" Podcast

Photo by Ryan Swift (https://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanswift/)

The Track Podcast showcases some of the most vital conversations about Swing Dancing, Swing Music, and the global Swing Dance Community. Host Ryan Swift is like a Terry Gross or a Marc Maron, but just for our community. Every episode has been compelling, informative, and just great radio. These interviews present both the current issues in the Lindy Hop community, as well as serving as an important document of the history of the Lindy Hop revival. 

Last Novemeber, Ryan published an interview with Jonathan Stout. Here's Ryan's description:

This month I am joined by one of the top bandleaders for swing dancers today, Jonathan Stout.  Jonathan began dancing as a teenager in 1995, and started his first band, the Campus Five, in 2002.  Since that inception, his bands have played regularly throughout his native Los Angeles, and he has grown into a giant of the swing world. He has released 3 albums with the Campus Five, and led bands at the National Jitterbug Championships at Camp Hollywood, theFrankie 95 festival, the International Lindy Hop Championships and repeat engagements at Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing.

In our conversation, we discuss what makes a good song for swing dancing, whether DJs are a valuable asset to swing dancers, and his relentless pursuit of ‘the real deal’ - an obsession with the authentic and how that translates to his role as a swing dancer and bandleader. 

We also talk about starting on guitar as a bedroom metalhead, discuss the differences between the Mount Rushmore of band leaders he paid tribute to at the last Lindy Focus (Basie, Shaw, Goodman & Ellington) and uncover what it took for him to get past the cliche and rediscover the joy in Benny Goodman’s "Sing, Sing, Sing."

You can listen at www.thetrackpodcast.com - or perhaps even better, you can listen and subscribe on itunes or wherever you manage your podcasts.

You can also listen to it here (bear in mind, each episode is 90-120 minutes long, we highly recommend downloading or subscribing for an optimal listening experience.)

The Campus Five appears on ABC's "The Bachelorette"

The Campus Five on ABC's "The Bachelorette"Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, featuring Hilary Alexander were featured, along with Lindy Hop legend Jean Veloz and host of Los Angeles' best Lindy Hoppers, on an episode of ABC's "The Bachelorette" that aired June 6, 2016. 

During the "dance lession" segment, Jean Veloz is seen dancing with Steve Conrad to an original Campus Five song written for the show called "Swingin' on Rusty's Gate", a nod to Rusty Frank who also appears in the episode teaching with Steve. Once the couple heads outside, the dancers can be seen dancing to another Campus Five original "Doin' at the Doing" (and the audio you hear is the band playing live, on location). 

 

 

Here's a preview of the segment:

And some photos from the shoot: