THIS YEAR has been a big year for local big band The Sultans Of Swing.

Back in January the band were formed by musical director Tracey Thorne and her partner, band manager and compere Julian Maxfield.

Julian said: “The band’s popularity and success is truly going from strength to strength.

“From humble beginnings of 10 members things have escalated at a rate no-one could possibly have dreamed of.

“The band have 25 members with nine successful performances under their belts, three more booked for December and bookings already for 2015.”

The band`s repertoire is growing all the time as the band rehearses every Tuesday from 8pm to 10pm at the Woodbottom Working Men’s Club in Baildon.

Julian added: “We have some fun Christmas swing tunes ready for the festive season along with the standards from Glenn Miller, Sammy Nestico, Count Basie and Ray Alexander.”

Julian said the band was always keen to hear from musicians with a `thing for swing` who would either like to join on a permanent basis or be ‘on-call’ as extra musicians for gigs.

The Sultans Of Swing have performed for retirement parties, birthday parties, vintage weekends and Proms On The Farm, and are always looking for new bookings.

Upcoming performances include Baildon Woodbottom WMC (December 12), Hoyle Court (December 18), Saltaire Stories Festival at Victoria Hall in Saltaire (April 18), and Scampston Hall on June 14.

Visit thesultansofswing.co.uk to check out gig dates, find out about the band members and hear recordings of their performances.