About the Band

Swing Machine is an Ipswich-based big band recreating the much-loved sounds of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Our members, all enthusiasts of the genre, came together to play the music we love, and since those early days the band has gone from strength to strength, attracting quite a following along the way. While our extensive repertoire is rooted in the Swing Era, we do include modern arrangements in our programmes. We can also incorporate a wide variety of dances and our popular Ballroom and Latin events include Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Jive, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Tango, Samba, Salsa, etc.

Our forte, of course, is swing music and we take great delight in bringing to our audiences the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Ted Heath, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington and Stan Kenton et al. We have two top-class vocalists who perform both individually and as a duo, covering songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr., etc. Also complementing the band are some fabulous soloists who add the ‘icing on the cake’ to the arrangements.

Swing Machine has played at a wide variety of events and venues including BBC Radio Suffolk’s Children in Need fundraising dance event and Christmas Concert, Charity Balls featuring celebrity dancers from TV's Strictly Come Dancing, University Balls, Newmarket Race Course, Duxford Imperial War Museum, North Weald Airfield, Old Buckenham Air Show, The Norfolk Tank Museum, Boxted Airfield, The New Wolsey Theatre, The Spa Pavilion Theatre, The Quay Theatre, Leiston Film Theatre, Trinity Park, Wherstead Park, Jimmy's Farm, Crowne Plaza Resort, the Maui Waui Festival, the Woolpit Festival, Helmingham Hall, Ipswich School of Dancing, The Boatyard Restaurant at Leigh-on-Sea, Brandeston Hall, Orwell Park School, The Royal Hospital School, The Red Feather Club, 40s Hangar Dances, Ipswich Music Day, Music on the Green, Petta Fiesta, Ipswich Jazz Club, Hintlesham Hall, The Athenaeum, Flatford Mill, Elizabeth Hotels and Ipswich Corn Exchange.

We support various charities including Cancer Research, St. Elizabeth Hospice, EACH, Help for Heroes, Afgan Heroes, St. John Ambulance and Children in Need.

We would greatly enhance functions such as weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties, 40s themed events, music festivals, dinner dances and charity events. To ensure your event is exactly as you would wish, we can tailor our programme to your specific requirements.