The 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra plays its annual Swing Into Christmas big-band show with seasonal standards.
Down for the Count Swing Orchestra bring their annual Swing Into Christmas show to The Tivoli Theatre on Saturday 28 November, with two performances that day: a matinee at 2:30pm and an evening show at 7:30pm. It's part of their 2026 UK tour, and the show has become a holiday tradition for audiences across the country.
Down for the Count is a 30-piece big band with strings, one of the largest swing bands currently touring the UK. They recreate the sound of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Judy Garland in an authentic big-band-with-strings style, and the set is built around fresh arrangements of seasonal standards like Let It Snow, This Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and New York, New York. The whole thing is directed by conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith, who leads the orchestra and handles the introductions throughout the afternoon or evening.
It's one of the country's most highly regarded vintage bands, and they've sold out shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, the London Jazz Festival and Cadogan Hall. Jazzwise has called them a potential competitor to the John Wilson Orchestra, so if you're into that big, lush, old-school sound, this is exactly that. The Aberdeen date is one stop on their 2026 tour, and since they're playing twice in one day, you've got a choice of a matinee or an evening slot.
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Tickets are £44.50 to £30, which includes a £1 venue restoration donation. The Tivoli is at 34-48 Guild Street, AB11 6NB, and the two shows run at 2:30pm and 7:30pm on Saturday 28 November.
