Press and PR enquiries

Please direct all press and PR enquiries to musical director Mike Paul-Smith:

Telephone: +44 (0) 7855 488 462
E-mail: mike@downforthecount.co.uk

Biography

Please find below a generic biography covering our three line-ups (the Down for the Count All-Stars, Big Band and Orchestra). 

If you would like a biography for a specific line-up, or marketing copy for a specific tour show, please contact us.

You'll find a downloadable version of the biography along with press images on the right of this page (or by scrolling down on a mobile phone).

Down for the Count

Down for the Count are a vintage band who bring the sounds of the Swing Era back to life, with an electrifying show full of incredible energy and musicianship.

Since bursting onto the scene at Twinwood Festival in 2013, Down for the Count have earned themselves a reputation as one of the hardest swinging bands in the UK. They are constantly in demand, and have sold out shows at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, Cadogan Hall London, Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho, Le Caveau de la Huchette (Paris) and the opening night of The London Jazz Festival two years in a row.

The band perform in three different line-ups - a mini big band, a full big band, and a big band with strings, all directed by pianist/conductor and compère Mike Paul-Smith. Down for the Count's line-ups are equally at home on the concert stage, in regional theatres, at outdoor festivals, and at ballroom and swing dance events.

They have released multiple albums, songs from which have been played on BBC Radio 2 (Clare Teal's show) and on several local BBC radio stations. The 2021 single "When I Fall In Love" (featured on the At The Cold Stores album) reached number 1 on the iTunes jazz charts.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the band released a series of lockdown videos which have received close to a million views across all channels. The first lockdown release Let's Face the Music and Dance was described as "awesome" by Michael Bublé, and was streamed around the world as part of the International Jazz Day celebrations.

In 2021 and 2022 Down for the Count were invited to perform at The Leeds Castle Concerts, where they supported The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in front of 10,000 people. Also in 2021 Down for the Count were invited to perform at the prestigious Snape Maltings Proms.

Down for the Count recreate classic tunes made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat 'King' Cole, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and Glenn Miller. But this is no mere nostalgia trip – Down for the Count perform each song in their own unmistakeable style, breathing new life into the best vintage music.

Combine that with the band’s top class instrumental solos, sublime vocal performances, and irresistible humour and joie de vivre, and you get a show that will leave you feeling uplifted and wanting more.

Press quotes

"This is awesome!!!"
Michael Buble on our lockdown video

“A sonic ride back to the sounds of Capitol Studios in the 1950s"
DownBeat Magazine

"A potential rival to The John Wilson Orchestra"
JazzWise Magazine

"One hellova celebration of vintage music."
TimeOut London

“You won’t find a better interpretation of these golden tunes anywhere in the UK right now.”
Stage Reviews

"Luscious renditions of jazz standards"
The Guardian

"Love this! Just lovely."
Clare Teal on our lockdown video

"A breath of fresh air on the swing scene."
Twinwood Festival

“Wow! That was fantastic! You guys are so good.” 
David Grant (Vocal coach – Fame Academy, Pop Idol etc)

“The band grabbed the audience from the first downbeat and kept them enthralled right up to the encore.”
Jazz Journal

"Classic set-pieces well played with exuberance and care… a sure-fire winner. Look out for them."
Jazz Rag 

"The whole show was almost faultless."
Liverpool Echo