Erin Britt, Madeline Dodier and Kelly Taylor Brown salute in sequin gowns in front of the American flag at the Marine Corps Birthday Ball at The Orleans. Photo courtesy of Pin-Ups on Tour/Marine Corps League
Swingin’ on a Las Vegas Star
BY KENDALL HARDIN
Once you’ve experienced The Swing It! Girls, you can’t sashay out of the theatre without humming and grinning, your heart vibrating and your body bobbing to the rhythms.
Such is the power of three young women on stage—seducing their audiences with three-part harmony, hyper-synchronized choreography and infectious tunes with a vivid past.
The Swing It! Girls was conceived on the Norwegian Star cruise ship in 2011 with an experimental performance by three young performers onboard: Erin Britt from New York, Rosie Glossop from London and Phoebe Coupe from Melbourne, Australia. Performing on the ship’s open-air atrium, it was an immediate hit with passengers crowding all three decks.
“When we came back into port, the booking agents didn’t really know what to do with us being so far apart, so the act ultimately faded away,” Britt recalled.
“Once I moved to Las Vegas in 2017, I thought if there’s anywhere to make this group work, it’s here,” she said. She revived the group’s inaugural show at the Summerlin Library, accompanied by a seven-piece band on stage. “We love performing in the Clark County libraries. It’s the perfect stage for us, with free performances introducing us to all ages.”
Today, The Swing It! Girls has morphed into a band of nine local performers in Las Vegas and four in Orlando, Florida—headed by Jenna Bagatti, who relocated there in 2021.
“In Vegas, our girls are performing around town all the time,” Britt said. “So we needed a corps of trained talent to fill various dates that accommodate everyone’s career and personal life.”
Inspired by the legendary Andrews Sisters, known for their innovative style during World War II and the Big Band generation, The Swing It! Girls capitalize on the close three-part musical harmony of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The Andrews Sisters’ musical stardom in the 1930s and 1940s has since inspired an array of superstars like Bette Midler, The Supremes, Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys and The McGuire Sisters.
The challenge for Britt was how to produce the show without a live band so it could travel and perform in almost any venue. She secured music tracks for the repertoire, documented the choreography via video, and created the group’s vintage brand. Costumes, jewelry and accessories were designed down to the smallest detail.
Lisa Quibell Harvey, Brittany Avey and Erin Britt sparkle onboard a float at Summerlin’s Patriotic Parade. Photo courtesy of Summerlin Council
Today, trios can choose from more than 15 wardrobe options to fit various gigs—from sequined gowns to vintage dresses adorned with crinoline petticoats, coordinated jewelry, a hair flower and, of course, scarlet red lipstick.
But how does Britt magically convert a new recruit into a full-fledged Swing It! trooper?
“When a new girl comes on board, I give her everything at once to absorb—lyrics, musical tracks, videos of choreography, order of the set pieces and transitional banter—to learn all the routines,” she explained. “Then we rehearse in my home studio until we get every detail right.”
Erin Britt, Kara Ackley and Jenna Bagatti as the original Las Vegas Swing It! Girls trio. Photo by Dragon Dreams Photography
Alto Olivia Broome joined as the newest member of the “Swing Set,” performing only since April. What was it like to transform into a Swing It! Girl? “After I got the callback, I had two weeks to learn 25 songs,” she recalled. “It was a hefty challenge, but I absolutely love being part of the group.
“It’s cool that everyone is an outstanding musician in her own right. I can brag on the caliber of talent and our ability to collaborate so well with each other.”
Coco Lane Rigbye has been with the group for three years. “I auditioned because the music is right up my alley, but the three-part harmony was new to me,” she said. “We’re all friends, but I honestly couldn’t imagine a better boss than Erin. She manages the entire act, but she’s also in there performing with us, backing up the trio.
Erin Britt, Jenna Bagatti and Kara Ackley in the first Las Vegas performance at the Summerlin Library in 2017 with the Swing Machine band led by trumpeter Ron Levi. Photo courtesy of The Swing It! Girls
“Erin has an eye for the vintage look of the period, but most important of all, an ear that can hear all the different harmonies and rhythms. That’s an exceptional gift.”
Brittany Avey has been with the group almost from its start in Las Vegas. “What’s really special is that we’re like family, mostly because of Erin and her passion for the music,” she said.
“When we’re on stage, we see the smiles in the audience. The songs are so uplifting! Our music creates a special atmosphere that transports everyone in the room to a different time zone. Plus, we’re all best friends as musicians, which shines through in our performances.”
Today, The Swing It! Girls perform special shows like “We Can Do It—A Swingin’ Celebration of Female Artists,” “Sleigh Bells Swing!,” “The Swing It! Girls Salute Our Veterans” and their newest version of “American Road Trip.” They can be seen performing at select area malls, casino lounges, festivals, parades, block parties, country clubs, sporting events, community centers, private events and assisted living locations throughout the valley.
The Swing It! Girls also perform a three-hour gig weekly at the BLVD Grille on Water Street in Henderson. They deliver a special treat by rendering the national anthem for groups like the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay and the Las Vegas Aviators at Las Vegas Ballpark.
The original Swing It! Girls co-founders Phoebe Coupe, Rosie Glossop and Erin Britt following their very first performance onboard the Norwegian Star. Photo courtesy of The Swing It! Girls
The Swing It! Girls have established themselves as a vintage musical phenomenon in Las Vegas that engages modern audiences. Their act is remarkably fitting and fun for everyone in the family. While older generations appreciate the nostalgia of the music and the era in which it was born, many young people are exposed for the first time to the sound of close harmony and ageless tunes that endure in the American Songbook.
The group has attracted a loyal fan base—including busloads of seniors—making it harder to get a seat at library performances that are free to the public.
What’s on the horizon for The Swing It! Girls in Las Vegas? “With the momentum and gains we made over the past year, I’m looking forward to a more regular schedule of gigs throughout the community,” Britt said. “But it’s equally exciting to launch additional performances—as well as new sets—in novel venues throughout the valley.
“The Swing It! Girls are definitely going to keep on swinging!”
The current cast of The Swing It! Girls in Las Vegas includes founder Erin Britt, Brittany Avey, Bridget Reilly, Kelly Taylor Brown, Celina Sasso, Jenelle Catherina, Zelda Fairfax, Coco Lane Rigbye and Olivia Broome. For performance information, visit swingitgirls.com.