Alan Sticky Wicket Swing Band

Now also available with top UK and Alive Network vocalist Sophie Garner!

1930's 40's & 50's Swing at its Best. This dynamic band recreates all the excitement of the era with classic tunes and original arrangements. Entertaining Visual...... & they're great to dance to too!!

The Nine Piece Band was formed by 'Drummer Extraordinaire' Alan “Sticky” Wicket renowned for his entertaining ‘Drumnastic’ solos. His is undoubtedly one of Britain’s finest Drummer/Percussionists whose pedigree is beyond question having worked consistently with the greats such as: Chris Barber Steve Gibbons Lonnie Donnegan and Van Morrison to name but a few.

The band comprises of some of Britain’s finest young musicians and a chance meeting with vocalist Serena Howard-Douglas when she was appearing at Ronnie Scott’s completed the line up. Sticky enthuses, “Serena is the most natural, entertaining, fun-loving vocalist you could wish to find……..….. with a great voice too!”

Debuting at The 100 Club, London in January 2001, literally “swingin” the audience, it was there that they were discovered by the organisers of the major Swing Dance events in the UK and are now considered by many to be the number one swing band to dance to. Equally, they are well received by discerning jazz audiences at festivals and concerts etc.

They have performed at major festivals & Swing-Dance events all over the UK, including The Savoy Ball, The Swing-Jam, Marlborough Jazz Festival, Stafford Jazz Festival, Lichfield Jazz & Blues, Trimdon Festival, Henley Regatta, Blenheim Palace, The Glitter Ball, Jitterbugs and, of course, regular visits to The 100 Club. Clients include: Birmingham Royal Ballet, Donnington Park, Abbey National Bank, Pro-Drive, Northampton Camber of Commerce and the BBC. The band also appeared on the BBC2 TV’s Homeground documentary 'We'll Meet Again', where they met up with The Jiving Lindyhoppers with whom they have since collaborated on stage shows. They have also performed on Radio 2 and many local radio stations.

What is swing?
To our mind swing is a feel thing, a groove, a danceable beat irrespective of the period or style. The swing era however, is generally accepted as being the period between 1935 and 1946 which was the hey-day of the great American big bands, from Duke Ellington, Chick Webb, Benny Goodman through Count Basie, Gene Krupa to Glen Miller and Woody Herman and many others; some of whom continued to swing on into subsequent decades. And the vocalists swung too-Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Dinah Washington and of course Frank Sinatra ‘just too few to mention’.

Their music combines elements of all the aforementioned with a bit of ‘Boogie Blues’ thrown in for good measure; all intended to keep audiences ‘swingin and jumpin’! .. an irresistable combination.

Dancing to their music
Bringing on board some amazing dynamic stylistic dancers, from formal shows and TV appearance with international dance troop ‘The Jiving Lindy Hoppers’ to swing dance events, private functions and weddings, this band, like many bands of old is eminently for dancing; but it also has a big following at festivals and clubs with the discerning listening audiences.