Ray Quinn - A Swinging Christmas

Ray Quinn brings A Swinging Christmas to the Epstein Theatre on Thursday 19 November, a night built around the music and the story of the Rat Pack. If you've spent any time around the city's music scene, you'll know Quinn has carved out a proper place for himself in swing, and this is his take on the era.

It's not just a concert. Along with the songs, the show tells the story of the Rat Pack — that legendary circle of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. who defined the mid-century Vegas sound. The set follows their rise and the particular kind of chemistry they had together, so you get the music and the history behind it in one go. It's the sort of thing that works well in a room like the Epstein, where you're close enough to the stage to catch the details rather than watching from the back of a hall.

For those who might recognize the name but aren't sure where it's from, Quinn first made his mark as Anthony Murray in the soap Brookside. He's since moved into swing music, and A Swinging Christmas is his way of bringing that world to the stage. The whole thing is led by Quinn himself, so he's the one guiding you through the songs and the stories.

It's on Thursday 19 November at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool. If you're into the Rat Pack and the swing era, it's a straightforward way to spend an evening with that sound front and centre.