Diary

Drawn from the ranks of the Chris Barber Band, the front line of the Shooting Stars have been performing together for many years throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

The band was formed to fill the gap between tours and to entertain audiences at clubs and festivals at home and abroad.

The Shooting Stars are a traditional 6-piece jazz band who pride themselves on always performing with vigour and passion. With an emphasis on quality music and entertainment from across the jazz spectrum, THE SHOOTING STARS have a repertoire ranging from the early vintage jazz favourites through to British traditional jazz.

Pete Rudeforth (trumpet), Alister Allan (trombone), Richard Exall (clarinet, saxes & vocals), Graham Roberts (guitar & banjo), Mark Adams (bass) & John Watson (drums).

We are delighted to welcome once again one of our longest-serving and most popular bands who are maintaining their position as one of the leading forces in British Traditional Jazz. 

After the retirement due of long-standing leader and drummer John Meehan, The Savannah Jazz Band continue to perform under the leadership of Brian Ellis, aided by the recruitment of Graham Smith in the drum chair and Roger Bird on reeds 

Brian ‘Sam’ Ellis (trombone), Richard Church (trumpet), Roger Bird (reeds), Chris Marney (banjo), Tony Pollitt (bass), Graham Smith (drums).

Following three successful appearances we are delighted to present once again Tom “Spats” Langham’s Hot Fingers. This exciting and well-presented combo take tunes from all eras and of all sources and give them their own, unique treatment, but what is more important, vital even, is that they do not lose the essence and they do it with soul and respect. The band consists of Tom “Spats” himself, who hails from Gloucestershire’s own New Orleans, Stow-on-the-Wold, on banjo and guitar, Malcolm Sked on bass and tuba, multi-instrumentalist Danny Blyth and vocalist Emily Campbell complete the line-up.

They play everything from Fred Astaire to Sonny Terry and Brownie Magee with a couple of numbers from Broadway musicals thrown in. All the tunes are played beautifully with wit and aplomb and are held together by their unique style, which is similar to that of the Bonzos, the Temperance Seven, Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band and others, many of which Spats and other trio members have played with.