Popular swing music is coming to Tavistock Wharf in November with AJ’s Big Band as it marks 45 years of playing orchestral jazz in the South West.

The South West's premier seventeen-piece band continues to perform the unforgettable music of the swing era.

Under the leadership of saxophonist Ken Parr, the highly acclaimed ensemble plays throughout the West Country with popular concerts and dances.

Since AJ.'s formation, in 1983, by the late Alan (A.J) Hempstead, the band has earned a good reputation, blending quality ensemble work with exciting jazz solos.

In 1989 A.J’s was proud to have been chosen to perform the role of the Glenn Miller Orchestra on stage at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter. The production ‘Little Brown Jug - the story of Miller's later life’ - was a great success and introduced the band to a wider audience of swing and jazz enthusiasts.

The 17 band members play a wide range of music from the 1930s to more contemporary arrangements, with the emphasis on classics made famous by the likes of Count Basie, Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw.

The concerts always feature a wealth of great songs, including timeless hits from Ella Fitzgerald, Sinatra and Vera Lynn, thanks to songstress Jaqs Price-Hughes who bring her stunning vocals to the stage.

AJ's Big Band will bring ‘an afternoon of nostalgia and swing’ to the Wharf, Canal Road, Tavistock PL19 8AT on Sunday, November 29, at 2:30pm.

They promise an afternoon stepping into the golden age of music, letting the timeless melodies carry audiences away with a glorious afternoon of swinging classics. AJ.’s will bring all the favourite big band hits that evoke the warmth and nostalgia of yesteryear.

From smooth standards to foot-tapping swing, this is music that wraps around you like a familiar embrace, the perfect way to gently begin pre-Christmas celebrations. Book your tickets here: tavistockwharf.com Box Office: 01822 611166

Tavistock Wharf, a canal-side venue, has a licensed bar and café open for refreshments before and during the interval.