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"The hottest little big band in the South East... The New Foxtrot Serenaders look and sound like the real thing. Their style is authentic and nostalgic, with a real feel-good factor. They've performed several times for the Big Band nights at the bandstand, and attracted large, enthusiastic audiences." From the Eastbourne Today website.
In addition to playing at dances and functions we also put on concert performances in London and the South East of England. See details and photos of our most recent concerts below. Older gigs (back as far as when the web site started) are pictured on our Concerts Past page - big crowds at the Royal Festival Hall Foyer, in 1940s uniform at Polesden Lacey and more. 'As soon as the New Foxtrot Serenaders struck up their overture, it was clear that the music for the whole evening was in good hands - what a great bunch of musicians they are, both as accompanist and in their own right' - review from our nostalgic return visit to the Wallington Operatic show.
Upcoming concerts
We are delighted to be playing once more with Simon Gledhill at a new venue (for us), at the Worthing Assembly Hall on Sunday 19th February 2012. Simon will be playing on the Wurlitzer, which is supported by the Sussex Theatre Organ Trust, and as usual we will do separate and joint sets, bringing together the sound of the dance band and theatre organ once again. Back again to the wonderful Barn Theatre in Oxted on Friday 2nd March 2012. The Barn feels like our spiritual home as we have had warm welcomes and strong audiences for so many years. Come along for the fresh music and old jokes. Then along to a new venue for us, the Vera Fletcher Hall, Thames Ditton, Sunday 11th March 2012 . We seem to be coming regulars at Thame's Players Theatre, back again on Saturday 7th April 2012. Also another visit to wonderful Broadstair's Memorial Theatre on Saturday 23rd September 2012 - let's hope for an Indian summer so we can enjoy ice creams and a balmy evening. In between we appear for the first time at St Peter's Church, Woodmansterne,Friday 11 May 2012 as part of the Banstead Festival. Recent ConcertsFor further pictures see the links mentioned with some of the concerts below.
Fabulous audience at Wilton's, the world's oldest Grand Music Hall near Tower Bridge on Saturday 3rd December 2011. Just shows that all ages can really appreciate the great tunes from the early C20th. Interesting to follow later C20th phenomenon like Adam Ant.
We have done lunchtime concerts in all of the Fairfield spaces, but it was nice to do a matinee in the concert hall on Saturday 5th November 2011. Our 2011 visit to the remarkably elegant Bradbourne House in East Malling, Kent, was on Thursday 13th October. The building and location are timeless, maybe that's why we feel so at home. With memories of previous magnificent summer evenings there it was a little different coming in from the darkness, but warmth from the unseasonable weather and also the lovely East Malling Research Station Music Club audience made for another memorable evening.
The beginning of October 2011 found us in another cinema organ and dance band concert with the marvellous Simon Gledhill, this time in Stockport's magnificently restored art deco Plaza, complete with a beautiful Compton organ. Thank you to the Cinema Organ Society for inviting us!
Beautiful Broadstairs beach on a very sunny April Sunday Go West young men! Well not so young perhaps but off we went to Thame's cosy Players Theatre once more on Saturday 9th April 2011. It was then about turn for our third visit to the Memorial Theatre in very sunny Broadstairs for another early evening concert Sunday 17th April 2011 . We went Back to the Future at the Barn Theatre in Oxted on February 18th 2011. This time we started at the 40s and celebrated crooners through to the modern day, such as Frank Sinatra, Matt Monroe, Mel Torme, and Michael Buble. The audience came from afar to hear us - the furthest travellers were from the USA and Kenya (and maybe just tad related to band members). One of our liveliest venues each year is at Age Concern at the Nettlefold Theatre, West Norwood, our 2010 date was the afternoon of Thursday 28th October. For our annual visit to the Fairfield Halls in well-connected central Croydon we had a crack at the Arnhem Gallery this time, having got familiar with the other halls there, for the lunchtime of Tuesday 26th October 2010. We advised they had initially underestimated the seating, so when the ever-helpful crew made more available we were relieved that our audience was as large as usual so we had not created unnecessary work.
We were delighted to be playing with Simon Gledhill again for another cinema organ and dance band concert, this time at the Musical Museum Brentford on Sunday 17th October 2010. We returned to the lovely Bradbourne House on Thursday June 10th 2010, as always by kind invitation of the East Malling Research Station Music Club. Into our second decade here... We once again were delighted to join cinema
organ phenomenon Simon Gledhill for a varied afternoon concert at
the Broadway Theatre, Catford on 6th June
2010.
The Chequer Mead Theatre in East Grinstead was satisfyingly full for our charity concert on Friday 30th April 2010.
Bertie showing poise unmatched by the rest of the band For our 14th annual visit to the lovely Barn Theatre in Oxted on Friday 19th March 2010 we were joined on stage by Bertrum Wilberforce Brooke-Mellor, the best looking member of the band and the favourite of the large audience, who did a fine job keeping his protg Drew in check on the pots and pans. Graham was pleased he was no longer the shortest in the band. More fun at the Memorial Theatre, Broadstairs, having been invited back for another early evening concert Sunday 21st February 2010.
Another lunchtime gig at the Ashcroft Theatre in the Fairfield Halls complex in Croydon, this time with special guest Sheila Tracy doing a little of the compering on Tuesday 27th October 2009 (seen above on stage with the band). Then on to the energetic Age Concern festival bash in the afternoon of Thursday 29th October at the Nettlefold Hall at West Norwood Library. We had such a good time at the Players Theatre in Thame we are delighted to be invited back for Saturday 17th October 2009. Nice to see word got around to bring in a larger audience. We were back at the cosy but lively Comrades Club, Coulsdon, Surrey, for Jazz Night on Thursday 8th October 2009. A lovely location at The Quay Theatre Sudbury on Saturday 19th September 2009, followed the week after on Saturday 26th September 2009 for a return visit to the Underground Theatre in Eastbourne.We went off to the seaside once more, this time to the Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft, for an early evening performance on Sunday July 19th 2009. Great audience, a little smaller than we would prefer but it made it very cosy and huge fun.
We returned to Norden Farm Centre for the Arts at Maidenhead 11th July 2009, with special guest Jeanie Barton making a very welcome return appearance. Bill Rennells helped compre once more adding to a lovely evening.
Look at those blue skies! Yet another lovely evening at the gorgeous Bradbourne House on 11th June 2009. Thanks to the East Malling Research Station Music Club for inviting us for our 10th anniversary visit. Even Graham's rendition of Singing in the Rain did not usher in the clouds, and the evening finished in summer evening light helped by just the gentle lights illuminating the historic portraits, music stand bulbs, and a standard lamp over the piano, providing superb atmosphere in the hall. S'Wonderful.
The day after our concert in Dulwich we crammed back into the Serenaders' jalopies and hacked down to the Bournemouth Pavilion on Sunday 29th March 2009 for a rollicking afternoon tea dance as part of their 80th birthday celebrations. The Pavilion afterwards reported that there were more than 500 people listening and dancing - far more than originally expected. We saw a wonderful Rolls Royce on display at the front entrance and owners Superwed let us bask in reflected glory.
Jo Brand was effortlessly hilarious in the star spot at our charity concert in aid of Dulwich Helpline at the Michael Croft Theatre, Dulwich on Saturday 28th March 2009. How do you follow that? Call 020 8299 2623 to donate to this worthy cause.
We were lucky enough to have another packed house for our 13th annual visit on Friday 13th March 2009 to the lovely Barn Theatre, Oxted, Surrey. The theme was The Roarin' Twenties and we were thrilled to be joined by the fabulous Bees Knees.
The Broadway Theatre in Catford, South London, is a magnificent example of 1930's Art Deco architecture and a perfect venue for our style of music. The real thrill was having world renowned cinema organist Simon Gledhill playing the Compton theatre organ, just restored by Peter Hammond who compred the event on Sunday 8th March 2009.
Its our hat trick of Cunard liners as we played in the magnificent 3 storey lobby of MS Queen Victoria on 2nd January 2009 for the embarcation for the transatlantic and round the world passengers. What a fantastic ship.
We seem to have a nautical theme going. An inspired stage was set at HMS Sultan in Gosport for their Christmas bash.
Nostalgic day on 11th November 2008 playing for the final embarcation at Southampton for the QE2. We enjoyed being on board her for the last time as an ocean liner - if we ever get aboard again she will be a hotel in Dubai (a little out of our normal range for gigs but we could have our arms twisted). We stopped for a few minutes to see a Harrier hover and then bow as thanks to her service as a troop carrier. It was lovely to be involved. Another lively bunch at our annual concert for Age Concern on Thursday 30th October 2008 at the Nettlefold Hall in West Norwood. As usual they put other audiences to shame with their willingness to trip the light fantastic. Heaps of people made the Ashcroft Theatre cosy for our lunchtime concert at the Fairfield Halls complex in Croydon on Tuesday 28th October 2008. Usual 1.05pm start makes it tempting to squeeze the last lap in after the chequered flag waves at 2pm (or was that the white flag?).
We had a lovely time at the Thame Players Theatre Saturday 11th October 2008. OK so we didn't exactly see the whole of Thame squeezed in there but we are confident that the enthusiastic audience will bring in more crowds for our next visit. It is a vibrant venue for a wide programme of events, from plays to opera to cinema, and we of course upheld the jazz element. We were delighted that Bill Rennells once again joined us, getting more laughs than Graham's singing. The venue and people were wonderful and we really will be back in 2009. Click here for details of older gigs - before Autumn 2008, back to when the website started.
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