The Big R - Swinging The Louisiana

You know it, we all know it; it just ain't a Bristol summer till a few hundred people dance and watch the swingtastic 'The Big R' outside Bristol's famous music pub, The Louisiana.

The Big R's regular appearance (I think this is the 9th time at The Louie, plus 1 time in Queens Square when it pissed it down), is one of the highlights of the fringe events at the Bristol Harbourside Festival & it gets bigger and better every time.

The road gets taken over by swing dancers, music lovers, boozers, and cruisers as the classic big band sounds of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, et al resonate across the historic dockland area.

Led by Bristol's best dressed drummer, The Big R are one of the UK's leading swing big bands, best known for playing festivals and weekenders. Dapper, dandy, dashing & debonair, the music is looking, and sounding pretty damn good.

In the event of rain (like 2023) we will play inside, which was pretty wild and amazing but outside is incredible so fingers crossed swing loving chums.

Also check out other Festivals in Bristol, Music events in Bristol, Entertainment events in Bristol.