Twist, Shout, Swing

What happens when you mix the legendary lyrics of The Beatles with the smooth sounds of swing, jazz, and a big band?

It's The Beatles Swing ' show critics have described it as Bublé meets the Beatles�, fronted by ultra-cool crooner, Craig Martin.

Craig and his eight-piece Big Swing Band will perform their out-of-the-box take on Beatles classics at the Redcliffe Entertainment Centre. Craig describes the show as having a contemporary swing and a very modern sound�.

I haven't turned the songs on their head, they're recognisable, but they've just got this swing jazz tweak to them, which people find interesting,� he said.�

Craig was born and raised in Liverpool, England, but his connection with the Fab Four goes much deeper than that. His music education� was listening to his mum's Beatles records in the 70s and 80s, which taught him how to play the guitar and harmonise. Soon, he was performing in public.

The Beatles were a massive influence ' as a teenager I performed in clubs where they played,� he said.

You get chills down your spine, thinking 'my God, John Lennon sang on this stage'.�

Last year, Craig returned to perform at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, where The Beatles were discovered, describing the experience as just fantastic�.

He's also toured with the legendary Gerry Marsden ' of Gerry and the Pacemakers fame ' who was good mates with Beatles members and had a few stories to tell.

I used to ask Gerry questions that no-one else would ask him, so I've got this great bag of stories and I put a few of them in the show,� Craig said.

In the 90s, he discovered his love of a new style of music when he began performing with some small swing bands. He went on to sing with the famous Syd Lawrence Orchestra in the UK.

The Beatles Swing show combines Craig's love of The Beatles and swing music ' a cool new take on some of the world's best loved classics.�

To book tickets, call the Redcliffe Entertainment Centre on 3283 0407 or visit
www.redcliffeentertainmentc....

The Beatles Swing
Saturday 7 March, 7.30pm
Redcliffe Entertainment Centre
Downs Street, Redcliffe