Sweden’s Queen of Swing, Gunhild Carling, Returns to WMSE’s Big Band Grandstand

MILWAUKEE – November 14, 2023 – WMSE 91.7FM Radio is pleased to announce the return of Gunhild Carling, known as Sweden’s Queen of Swing, to its Big Band Grandstand. A cherished holiday tradition celebrating its ninth year, The Big Band Grandstand will be held at the Turner Hall Ballroom on Sunday, December 3 at 4 p.m. This family-friendly event, annually presented by Direct Supply President and CEO Bob Hillis and Jenny Hillis in honor of Bob and Genie Friedman, is a high-energy, one-of-a-kind experience celebrating the swing era of the 1930s and 40s.

“We are honored that Gunhild Carling accepted our invitation to return to Milwaukee. Her exceptional musical talent and captivating stage presence left a lasting impression on our audience,” says Station Manager Tom Crawford. “With an impressive 11 albums under her belt, this year’s Big Band Grandstand is destined to be a show of shows. I dare you not to lindy hop a little.”

The evening kicks off with a special DJ set by WMSE’s curator of jazz and big band music Dewey Gill, followed by the extraordinary Gunhild Carling. MusicTheory.com ranks Carling No. 3 in its list of “The Most Famous Trombone Players You Should Know.” She is preceded only by legendary musicians Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. Carling is also exceptionally proficient at playing bagpipes, trumpet, recorder, and various string instruments. Gunhild, along with her big band accompaniment, showcases her musical prowess in every multifaceted performance. She seamlessly combines multiple instruments within a single song while effortlessly transitioning into tap dance and vocals.

The Big Band Grandstand will also feature a silent auction. Among the items available for bidding are Green Bay Packers tickets courtesy of TicketKing and a Film Buff package from Milwaukee Film comprising Film Director Dual Membership, film festival vouchers, and all-access festival passes valued at $1,500. A pasta-making class for six from Semolina is another featured auction item. Guests can also bid for the chance to be a WMSE DJ for the Day or win a tree of gift cards from popular local restaurants and businesses.

The proceeds from the Big Band Grandstand support the operation of WMSE’s studios, digitizing the station’s jazz library, and powering the WMSE Live Jazz stream 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tickets can be purchased at wmse.org/wmses-9th-annual-big-band-grandstand

WMSE’s Big Band Grandstand is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors: Direct Supply, Locker’s Florist, Beans & Barley, Melt Chocolates, Transfer Pizzeria Cafe, MSOE, and Great Lakes Distillery.

Photos of last year’s Big Band Grandstand featuring Gunhild Carling can be found here: www.wmse.org/8th-bbgs-imgs

About WMSE

“Anti-established” in 1981, WMSE 91.7 FM – Frontier Radio has grown into Milwaukee’s truest and longest-standing music radio institution. A financially independent department of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), WMSE – with a 24-hour free-form format representing every musical genre – has been primarily funded by listening supporters and community partners since 1997. The station’s vision is to educate the listening community by providing a wide selection of musical programming not heard anywhere else in the market. WMSE is Milwaukee’s champion for the city’s diverse community of musicians and artists. For more information, visit www.wmse.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.