Swingtown @ Orange County Great Park, Friday, August 6, 8pm

The Swingtown big band performs at the Orange County Great Park, in Irvine, Friday August 6 at 8pm. Free admission, Parking $10.

As long as a song swings, it’s fair game for this 11-piece band, whether it’s from Glenn Miller’s songbook or James Brown’s, or even the ‘80s pop hit “Walking on Sunshine.” Whatever the material, Swingtown plays it with horn-driven aplomb that’s made them favorites at Disneyland’s Plaza Gardens, where Count Basie, the Duke Ellington Orchestra and other big bands of yore once performed.

Led by Dave Wells and Dave Eastley, who plays both trombone and electric guitar and is not afraid of either, the group came up though Newport Beach’s club scene, and has backed such demanding artists as the Temptations, the Four Tops, Tommy Tune and Helen Reddy. But the band has distinguished itself as the go-to ensemble for parties that need a little help in the dance area. Said the Daily Pilot: “With more brass than your average Nordstrom store, Swingtown certainly isn’t your average nightclub band. Nor is its repertoire of hits commonplace… Their four-page song list includes a full page of swing tunes and a host of waltzes, bossa novas, Latin rhythms and ballads.”

More info: http://www.ocgp.org/2010/05/swingtown/