Swing Into Christmas with Down for the Count Swing Orchestra: Oxford 2026

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra returns to The Olivier Hall at St. Edward's School, Oxford with its much-loved annual seasonal treat, Swing Into Christmas! Gather your loved ones for a joyful set of festive and non-festive classics of yore as you’ve never experienced them before.

This is a Christmas spectacular like no other – the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra is one of the largest swing bands currently touring the UK. Featuring some of the UK’s top vocalists and instrumentalists, the acclaimed “big band with strings” recreates the sounds of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday in a unique extravaganza of music, stories and on-stage antics which have endeared the ensemble to audiences up and down the country year after year.

Audiences of all ages will be captivated by fresh arrangements of iconic songs such as Let It Snow, This Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year and New York, New York alongside many other favourites – all performed in the authentic big-band-with-strings style.

The Down for the Count Swing Orchestra is one of the UK's most highly-regarded vintage ensembles, having sold out numerous shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, The London Jazz Festival, Cadogan Hall and more.

It may be cold outside, but a night with the Down for the Count Swing Orchestra is guaranteed to leave you in the warm glow of the holiday spirit.

The Down for the Count Swing Orchestra

Performers: TBA

Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes including one 20 minute interval

Concert information:

Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes including one 20 minute interval
The auditorium will open 30 minutes before the concert start time.

Praise for the show:

“Awesome!” Michael Bublé
“A sonic ride back to the sounds of Capitol Studios in the 1950s” DownBeat Magazine
“A breath of fresh air on the swing scene” Twinwood Festival

Wheelchair/accessible spaces:

To book a wheelchair seat please call or email Mike (mike@downforthecount.co.uk, 07855 488 462).

The venue & parking:

This event takes place at The Olivier Hall, on the site of St. Edwards School in Oxford (OX2 7NN).

We strongly encourage you to use Oxford's excellent Park & Ride service to attend this event. There is a bus stop for Pear Tree Park & Ride outside the school entrance, with regular buses to and from the car park until midnight (route 300).

There is also on-street parking available close to the venue which is free in the evenings; the on-street parking is a short walk to the concert hall.

Please note that the only parking on the school grounds is for customers with mobility issues. Please contact us if you would to park in the closest spaces to the venue.

There will be a bar open in the foyer from 7pm serving beer, wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee.