Rockabilly. 

The name itself implies a toe-tapping, hand-clapping good time.

Throw in that music being played by a great young band that will have you up and dancing, and the mood is set for a great evening.

Vernon's Dixie Fried Hep Katz is the featured band for Rockabilly Party and Dance, slated for Friday, May 23, at 8 p.m. in the grand ballroom of the Prestige Hotel Vernon (across from London Drugs). The evening is presented by the Prestige Inn, Copeland Productions and Collectors Direct.

The Hep Katz, who recently opened for Canadian music icon Trooper's Vernon concert, plays nitro-injected rockabilly, which you can hear on their new album, Loud Guitars & Neon Lights. The group's latest studio album is getting airplay in North America and Europe.

"We play a mix of traditional and original rockabilly music, and have released three studio albums that excites people of all ages," said the Katz's singer-songwriter-guitarist Porter Johnson, joined in the group by drummer-songwriter-backup vocalist Kyndra Johnson, and slappin' upright bass player Neil Graham.

The Hep Katz are heavily influenced by the Sun Records catalogue of artists, plus others, from the 1950s, including, of course, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Duane Eddy, Eddie Cochran, and modern rockabilly greats the Stray Cats, Cousin Harley, Reverend Horton Heat, and the Wheelgrinders, who have called the Dixie Fried Hep Katz "The Future of Rockabilly."

The group has taken stages throughout Western Canada at many events, venues, and car shows.

"We love performing our exciting stage show which is full of energy and tricks," said Johnson.

Opening up for the Hep Katz will be local blues veteran Les Copeland and the Bourbon Street House Band.

Copeland is a guitarist schooled in most musical styles, and can improvise anything. He fell in love with the blues as a youngster after hearing the music of Mississippi Fred McDowell.

Copeland has travelled all over the globe playing his guitar and learning many different styles, specializing in blues, jazz and roots music.

"The Bourbon Street House Band, we've played on-and-off for years, but this is the first time we've got together as a band to perform," said Copeland. "They're part of my regular Thursday night gig at Bourbon Street (in Prestige Hotel Vernon), so we've been rehearsing the last five or six months.

Joining Copeland are drummer Charlie Fisher, guitarist Darryl Ranger, and Thomas (Big T) playing acoustic bass guitar. The band will play blues and swing music to warm up the crowd for the Hep Katz.

"Those kids (Hep Katz) are great, and the guys I'm with are great, so it will be a fun evening," said Copeland.

Tickets for the Rockabily Party and Dance are $30, and are available at Bourbon Street Bar and Grill, Eastside Liquor Co., and Collectors Direct.

The dance is a 19+ event with a cash/credit card/debit card bar.