Swing into Christmas

Down for the Count Swing Orchestra are back at The Great Hall on Thursday 17 December, their annual Swing Into Christmas show returning to Exeter as part of their 2026 UK tour. It's a 30-piece big band with strings, one of the largest swing ensembles currently touring the UK and one of the country's most highly regarded vintage bands, with sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, the London Jazz Festival and Cadogan Hall. Mike Paul-Smith conducts and compères the night.

The sound is built around the era of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Judy Garland. The set mixes festive classics like 'Let It Snow', 'This Christmas' and 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year' with non-festive ones like 'New York, New York', all given big-band-with-strings arrangements. There are also new song selections for the 2026 show, so it's not just a repeat of previous years.

Jazzwise has called them a potential competitor to the John Wilson Orchestra, and DownBeat described the sound as a sonic ride back to Capitol Studios in the 1950s. The Exeter date is one stop on their Swing Into Christmas 2026 UK tour, so they'll be bringing the full 30-piece ensemble to the city. The show starts at 7:30pm, and tickets are £22 to £45.