GYPSY jazz of 1930s Britain will arrive in present day Britain when the Hot Club of Stonehouse play Bridport Arts Centre on Friday, April 20.

The band's hot club sound is sultry, insouciant and swinging in the style of the legendary Django Reinhardt. The duo features the incendiary locomotive lead work of Melanie Bridle-Scullion on violin and ‘louche manouche’ rhythm from Julian Isaacs.

Their musicianship has garnered praise from many quarters including guitar supremo Martin Taylor MBE and veteran bassist Spike Heatley who said “they had me swinging and tapping my foot from the very beginning and that’s what it`s all about. Bravo!”

Based in Devon, they have recently performed at Solihull and Newcastle-under-Lyme Jazz Festivals, Dartmouth Music Festival, Volksfest, and Le Quecumbar, the London home of UK gypsy jazz. They have also appeared live on BBC Devon, and Resonance FM in London.

They play well loved music including Limehouse Blues, You Took Advantage Of Me, China Boy, Blue Skies, What a Difference a Day Makes, Sweet Georgia Brown to name but a few, and an amazing rendition of We’ll Meet Again.

As soon as they start up we’re quickly transported back to a bygone era of 1930s music hall that is both nostalgic and distinctly Parisian; it’s also very striking and communicates directly to the audience in a good humoured way.

*Hot Club of Stonehouse, Bridport Arts Centre, Friday, April 20, 8pm. Call the box office for tickets and more information.