Swing into Christmas at G Live

Round & About

The festive season countdown is on with Down For The Count at G Live on November 20th

The swinging sounds of a 30-piece ‘big band with strings’ are set to fill G Live with festive and non-festive classics. 

Formed in 2005 by conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith, they are currently one of the largest swing bands touring the UK. Mike trained to be a doctor and once qualified decided to give his first love, music, a go – he succeeded in turning Down For The Count from a wedding band into an orchestra, and hasn’t looked back. 

“Artists like Frank Sinatra and Nat ‘King’ Cole would often have a string section in the band when they recorded,” says Mike. “But these days, touring productions tend to reduce the band size to the bare minimum. We’ll have 30 musicians on stage, and every note is completely live.” 

Aside from the vocals, saxophones and violins, audiences have been treated to trumpets, tubular bells and maracas – and sometimes they end up with percussion instruments! 

The orchestra serves up treats from the Great American Songbook, including covers of less-well-known numbers. “We love delving into the archives to find the best vintage music,” explains Mike. “There is so much beautiful music out there and we love bringing it back to life – whether it’s the comparatively unknown Louis Armstrong version of White Christmas, or a classic tune everyone knows like New York, New York.”  

It promises to be the perfect way to literally, swing into Christmas!