The Swing Birds will be bringing a bit of nostalgia to the Festival of Christmas.

The Bath Road Methodist Church in Swindon will be hosting the festival full of Christmas music on Friday, December 14, from 7.30pm. Other stars of the show are Young Morgan Sharpe, The Kentwood Show Choir and Clarry Bean.

The Kentwood Show Choir is run by Sheila Harrod and has a jazz star patron in Cleo Laine. The Swing Birds are led by Mo Squires who wanted to bring together local musicians to fullfill her ambition of creating an all female line-up in the style of the Ivy Benson Band.

The wartime band of the 1940s, led by Ivy Benson, headlined variety theatres, topped the bill at the London Palladium, and became the BBC’s resident house band.

As for Mo, having got together a band for a one-off performance, she was delighted to find that her girls were gaining a loyal fan base and the rest was history.

The concert is to raise funds for the Methodist church and STEP, Swindon’s 10 to 18 project which helps youngsters from all of walks of life gain confidence. Tickets are £6 from Holmes Music on 01793 526393 or STEP at 01793 714042.