EXPERIENCE beautiful, bouncy sounds of 1930s Parisian swing music.

Bristol-based Gypsy jazz band The Schmoozenbergs are headed to Bridport Arts Centre stage on Saturday March 18.

Formed in 2012 by guitarists Sam Stennett and Tom Brydon-Smith, the band has grown into an energetic quartet, adding a double bass and a violin to their line-up.

Coming from varied backgrounds in jazz and classical music, they joined together with a shared love for the unique energy of this musical style. They love bringing their show to people of all ages and backgrounds, to cities, towns and rural communities, and seeing the pleasure that this accessible and upbeat style of jazz can bring.

Having firmly established themselves in the vibrant Bristol music scene, they have toured their show to great acclaim, and have enjoyed playing all sorts of venues, intimate to large... from neighbourhood cafés to Glastonbury Festival, and everything in between.

The band are delighted to be returning to Dorset. They have very fond memories of the region, including one of the most surreal locations they have ever played…in a huge cave on the Jurassic coast at a candle-lit dinner party!

Gypsy jazz music was born in 1930s Paris, the product of an ingenious marriage of traditional gypsy musical ideas, and the swinging sounds and rhythms of the American jazz scene.

In their show, The Schmoozenbergs tell stories of this fascinating period, and pay homage to the pioneers of the genre, the great gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and the French violinist Stéphane Grappelli. Their repertoire includes interpretations of their timeless compositions, as well as pieces by the likes of Duke Ellington, Fats Waller and George Gershwin. Also included are a number of original compositions, and some unexpected musical surprises.

The Schmoozenbergs’ shows are light-hearted and hugely entertaining affairs. Their tunes are catchy and heart-warming, full of intricate musical interplay and playful improvisation. They promise to transport you to a different place and time, putting a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

*The Schmoozenbergs at Bridport Arts Centre on Saturday March 18 at 7.30pm. Call the box office for tickets.