Is there a niche for 40's/50's style bands/singers?

[Kelybelly]

I really would love to find a band to sing with in the style of Jo Stafford and other 40's and 50's singers. I just wonder if there is a niche for this style? Would it be easy to get gigs etc...

 

Thanks loads, and if there is any bands or musicians out there who would like to work with me then please get in touch

 

Kelly

[jamesstarky]

Hi Kelly

I had a listen to Jo Stafford and its a really smooth style, but it with my little knowledge of that period, I'd guess the tempo is too slow for a band to get regular gigs these days.

 

My argument is that any band can get gigs with any style as long as its dance-able, and has a strong identity: Could be Motown, Ska, Afro-beat, death-metal, whatever, for example there is a club night in Sheffield that last week hosted a Dutch band playing Jewish folk; you'd imagine a very narrow niche of course, but because it was fast and frantic and noisy the young crowd loved it.

So maybe you could establish a live band doing mainly up-tempo swinging and jiving numbers, keeping the slower ones for the right audience. You'd get gigs at somewhere like West St Live on a weekend, which can be boozy and rowdy but good fun, and you'd go down well at those millitary-themed fairs during the summer where people dress up in old uniforms, (there's one at Norfolk Park).

Jiving and swinging are often pop back into fashion (or never leave) What about that recent re-birth of the lindy-hop dance craze? I think there was a class in Sheffield doing it.

The thing is, venue owners want bands that can bring in people, and people want to dance, especially if there is a strong theme; the music, the clothes etc.

Anyway, those are just some thoughts, not too obvious I hope.

Good luck

James

[De Batz]

A mate of mine plays in a band called the Cookin' Pots which seem to play a 40s and 50s style of Jazz, so there is a market for music of that era. But they play standards, and old-school covers of modern stuff. Would people go to see a Perry Como type act, or Les Paul and Mary Ford? I don't know.

[Kelybelly]

Thanks for the reply's guys. I do understand that it isn't mainstream but I guess I kind of meant bluesy jazz, Billie Holiday and more up beat, dance songs. Hey ho

[Gibbo Player]

I play guitar, mainly rhythm but wouldn't mind playing some of the older stuff if there is anyone else out there. Never gigged but have done open mike etc.

[Kelybelly]

Oh cool. What would you be interested in to doing?

[Gibbo Player]

Anything I can learn to play really. I'm not stuck in a particular genre.