The 1920s were a time of great social and cultural upheaval: jazz and flappers, socialism and feminism, revolutions in Russia, Ireland and China, and rapid shifts in art, literature, music and fashion. It was a glorious golden age in America, the UK and across Europe. The magic of film and the glory of Hollywood had been introduced to the world, it was the age of the automobile and the airplane, and the relaxing of once dark and repressive social mores, in a spirited and hopeful post-war period of progress - change was in the air.

The hunger for change was reflected in music, and nowhere more so than in jazz. The first jazz record was released in 1917 and the 20s was to see some of the greatest jazz music ever made as virtuoso performers like Louis Armstrong, Jabbo Smith and Johnny Dodds were playing with wonderful abandon. Across the States and over in Europe, dance bands were playing to packed houses, playing all the latest hits, copying their heroes, and picking up on new trends. New dance crazes like the Charleston and the Shimmy sprang up overnight, and the music and the dancing was fast and furious – it was young peoples music.

Celebrate this larger-than-life period in our cultural history as Susan Gai Dowling, Evan Loaning & Bob Bertles take you through the music that changed the world. So ‘Button Up Your Overcoat’ and ‘Walk right in’ to Hotel Blue - but make sure you ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’, and before you know it, you’ll be ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ as you ‘Charleston’ your way into the fabulous Roaring Twenties!