Down for the Count All-Stars
11-piece mini big band, found at world-famous jazz clubs, vintage festivals and dances.
Swing, jive and big band music from the UK’s top vintage ensemble.
The Down for the Count All-Stars are a 7- to 11-piece vintage band based in the UK. They are regularly found performing at concert halls, vintage festivals and theatres through the UK and abroad – and they are also available to hire for private events.
If you’re planning a wedding reception, corporate event or celebration with a vintage theme then this is the party band for you!
The band is also perfect for dance events – whether you want strict-tempo ballroom repertoire or music for a Lindy hop or jive event.
A hit on the UK vintage scene since 2013, The Down for the Count All-Stars are one of the UK’s most highly respected swing bands. They regularly sell out shows at world-famous jazz clubs including Ronnie Scott’s, and the UK’s most prestigious concert halls including Cadogan Hall.
Led by pianist and musical director Mike Paul-Smith, the band play hits from The Swing Era – including timeless classics such as Sing, Sing, Sing and In The Mood – and also mixing in great vocal-led tunes from Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and jumping jive songs from Louis Prima.
But this is no mere nostalgia trip – Down for the Count All-Stars perform each song in their own original style, breathing new life into the best vintage music.
The Down for the Count All-Stars feature some of the top jazz musicians performing in the UK – so before they take to the stage, why not hire our smaller duo The Jazz Essentials for your drinks reception or indeed any of our other fantastic line-ups.
Tailored live music packages from Mike Paul-Smith Music
The Down for the Count All-Stars feature some of the top jazz musicians performing in the UK – so before they take to the stage, why not hire our smaller duo The Jazz Essentials for your drinks reception or indeed any of our other fantastic line-ups.
Find out more about the band at www.downforthecount.co.uk.
Trusted by:
The gentlemen in Down for the Count wear suits kindly provided by Marc Darcy
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Down For The Count were the perfect swing band for our wedding celebration. We'd certainly recommend them for anyone seeking the full vintage experience.
James & Ailsa
Wedding Reception, Kachette Shoreditch, London
Videos
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I cannot thank you and the band enough. We simply couldn't have been happier with everything you did for us and the feedback has been extraordinary. YOU NAILED IT!
Emma and Tom
Wedding Reception, Sussex
Down for the Count All-Stars: Set List
Down for the Count All-Stars have a huge and ever-expanding repertoire of vintage music. Here are some of our song selections we would play at different types of event – check out the full list to see all the songs we can perform and get in touch if your favourite isn’t listed there!
Well known music for party dancing at vintage themed events
In The Mood (Glenn Miller)
Route 66 (Nat ‘King’ Cole)
Charleston (various)
I Wanna Be Like You (The Jungle Book)
The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)
Sing Sing Sing (Benny Goodman)
Pencil Full of Lead (Paolo Nutini)
Why Don’t You Do Right (Peggy Lee)
All of Me (Count Basie)
Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano (from The Talented Mr. Ripley)
Twistin’ the Night Away (Sam Cooke)
Jump Jive & Wail (Louis Prima)
Reet Petite (Jackie Wilson)
At Last (Etta James)
Feeling Good (Nina Simone)
My Baby Just Cares For Me (Nina Simone)
and any other song performed by The Get Downs
Sing Sing Sing (Benny Goodman)
Shiny Stockings (Count Basie/Ella Fitzgerald)
All of Me (Count Basie)
In a Mellow Tone (Duke Ellington)
On Revival Day (LaVern Baker)
Don’t Be That Way (Benny Goodman)
Puttin’ on the Ritz (Ella Fitzgerald)
Bourbon Street Parade (various)
Jeep’s Blues (Duke Ellington)
Rockin’ in Rhythm (Duke Ellington)
Stompin’ at the Savoy (Chick Webb)
Woodchopper’s Ball (Woody Herman)
I’ve Heard That Song Before (Harry James)
Tuxedo Junction (Erskine Hawkins)
The Shim Sham (T’Aint What You Do)
The Big Apple
The Tranky Doo (The Dipsy Doodle)
Don’t Be That Way (Quickstep)
Beyond the Sea (Foxtrot)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Foxtrot)
Twistin’ the Night Away (Jive)
Reet Petite (Jive)
Sway (Cha Cha)
Mambo Italiano (Cha Cha)
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Waltz)
Whatever Lola Wants (Tango)
That’s Amore (Viennese Waltz)
American Patrol (Quickstep)
Sing Sing Sing (Quickstep)
Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps (Rumba)
Quando Quando Quando (Rumba)
Mas Que Nada (Samba)
I’ve Heard That Song Before (Quickstep)
The Way You Look Tonight (Foxtrot)
My Baby Just Cares for Me (Foxtrot)
Que Sera Sera (Viennese Waltz)
The Last Tango (Tango)
Jump Jive & Wail (Jive)
Heatwave (Jive)
Moon River (Waltz)
The Last Waltz (Waltz)
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Cha Cha)
Swing dance events (Lindy hop and Charleston)
Sing Sing Sing (Benny Goodman)
Shiny Stockings (Count Basie/Ella Fitzgerald)
All of Me (Count Basie)
In a Mellow Tone (Duke Ellington)
On Revival Day (LaVern Baker)
Don’t Be That Way (Benny Goodman)
Puttin’ on the Ritz (Ella Fitzgerald)
Bourbon Street Parade (Louis Armstrong)
Jeep’s Blues (Duke Ellington)
Rockin’ in Rhythm (Duke Ellington)
Stompin’ at the Savoy (Chick Webb)
Woodchopper’s Ball (Woody Herman)
I’ve Heard That Song Before (Harry James)
Tuxedo Junction (Erskine Hawkins)
The Shim Sham (T’Aint What You Do)
The Big Apple
The Tranky Doo (The Dipsy Doodle)
Jive dance events
Just a Gigolo (Louis Prima)
When You’re Smiling (Louis Prima)
Jump Jive & Wail (Louis Prima)
Banana Split for my Baby (Louis Prima)
Choo Choo Ch’Boogie (Louis Jordan)
Ain’t Nobody Here But us Chickens (Louis Jordan)
Twistin’ the Night Away (Jackie Wilson)
Reet Petite (Jackie Wilson)
Route 66 (Nat ‘King’ Cole)
Ballroom dance events
Cheek to Cheek – foxtrot
My Baby Just Cares For Me – foxtrot
American Patrol – quickstep
I Get a Kick Out of You – quickstep
Heatwave – jive
Reet Petite – jive
Sway – cha cha
Mambo Italiano – cha cha
Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps – rumba
Strangers in the Night – rumba
Blue Tango – tango
Whatever Lola Wants – tango
Moon River – waltz
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – waltz
Que Sera Sera – Viennese waltz
That’s Amore – Viennese waltz
Mas Que Nada – samba
Vintage themed events
Well known music for party dancing at vintage themed events
In The Mood (Glenn Miller)
Route 66 (Nat ‘King’ Cole)
Charleston (various)
I Wanna Be Like You (The Jungle Book)
The Bare Necessities (The Jungle Book)
Sing Sing Sing (Benny Goodman)
Pencil Full of Lead (Paolo Nutini)
Why Don’t You Do Right (Peggy Lee)
Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano (from The Talented Mr. Ripley)
Twistin’ the Night Away
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I remember being on the other side of the marquee and hearing the drums start up for Sing, Sing, Sing and I just dropped everything and ran onto the dancefloor!
Katherine & Matt
Wedding Reception, Ely, Cambridgeshire
Down for the Count All-Stars: Line Ups
The Down for the Count All-Stars are available in the following line-ups:
7-piece
Female vocals, piano, bass, guitar, drums, trumpet, saxophone
11-piece
Female vocals, male vocals, piano, bass, guitar, drums, x2 trumpets, x3 saxophones
Vintage Dancers
Add 2 to 12 vintage dancers who will get your guests involved on the dancefloor
Also check out our larger line-ups – The Down for the Count Big Band, and The Down for the Count Orchestra (a big band with strings).
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The set list was fantastic and my feet have just about recovered from all that dancing!!
Kate Inns
Private party, Oxfordshire
