About Us

WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF THE DEBONAIRES, THE NORTH WEST AND MIDLANDS MOST AUTHENTIC LIVE VINTAGE DANCE ORCHESTRA AND SWING SENSATION

“IT DON’T MEAN A THING IF IT AIN’T GOT THAT SWING”    Duke Ellington 1931

Our passion is the popular music of the jazz era including Roaring 20’s Gatsby/Peaky Blinders sounds, Classic Broadway & Hollywood of the 30’&40’s and the Big Bands, 50’s Rock’n’Roll  and now our new offering: The Swinging 60’s.

Frequently Asked Questions

Swing Band Leader Max DebonQ: Is it necessary to have dance lessons to be able to dance to the Debonaires?

A: No. For example, for weddings and other more general public functions we play lively jump jive sets that anyone can party to.

Q: How do the Debonaires get such a Big Band Sound from just 8 members?

A: The Debonaires play music which has been specially arranged by Max, to suit the very flexible and rich sounding line up of our 8 member band. The band size is optimal to give an authentic musical performance emulating period ensembles from dixie jazz to the big band sound, whilst being affordable to hire and economic in terms of the space required at venues.

Q: Is your music suitable for the American style 40’s jump, jive, lindy hop scene?

A: You bet Buddy! Our programmes are well researched and designed to keep the joint jumping!

Q: If required, are the Debonaires able to perform an evening for Ballroom dancing or a mixture?

A: We have an extensive music library and are able to offer you Modern Ballroom, Latin American, Old Tyme and Modern Sequence dancing at your request.

Q: Do the Debonaires perform concerts?

A: We love performing concerts! Concerts give us time to talk with and get to know our audience and are a great opportunity to show off other great classics from our repertoire.

Q: What does it cost to hire the DEBONAIRES ?

A: Please see our Price Guide.

The Debonaires play Live Swing Music

More about the Debonaires

The Debonaires Live Band Vocalist

The concept of the Debonaires Swing Band came from a desire to perform and bring to the public the great jazz and swing based music of the Dance Band days when music was made by Composers, Musicians and Bandleaders rather than Producers and Technicians. The Debonaires play completely live and do not use backing tracks or any other performance enhancing contrivance. We have recently added a Swinging Sixties set to our offering. We are not a guitar band so expect something more from Austin Powers rather than the Rolling Stones. How about Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Bobby Vee, Bobby Darin, Burt Bacharach etc. You will love it !

Location wise we are based around Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire and this consequently makes Lancashire, Shropshire, Flintshire, Derbyshire and of course Birmingham our local patch. We do however perform nationwide and are very keen to make new friends wherever you may live.

The Debonaires' line up consists of:

  • Male and Female Vocals
  • Clarinet
  • Alto Sax
  • Tenor Sax
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Piano
  • String Bass
  • Drums.

Repertoire

Here is just a sample of our repertoire:

Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens Louis Jordan
All That Jazz Liza Minnelli
Amado Mio  Pink Martini
American Patrol  Glenn Miller
Apple Blossom Time  Nat King Cole
As Time Goes By  Casablanca
At Last  Glenn Miller
Begin The Beguine  Artie Shaw
Beyond the Sea (La Mer) Bobby Darin
Big John's Special  Benny Goodman
The Black Bottom Gatsby
Blues In The Night Jimmie Lunceford
Boogie Blues Anita O'Day/Gene Krupa
Brazil Pink Martini
Bring Me Sunshine Wedding Song
Cabaret Louis Armstong
Charleston Gatsby
Chattanooga Choo Choo Glenn Miller
Cheek To Cheek Fred Astaire
Cherokee Charlie Barnet
Close To You Carpenters
Come Fly With Me  Frank  Sinatra
Cry Me A River Julie London
Darktown Strutter's Ball Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Diamonds Are A Girl'S Best Friend Marilyn Monroe
Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree Glenn Miller
Do You Know The Way to San Jose? Dionne Warwick
Fever Peggy Lee
Fly Me To The Moon Frank  Sinatra
Flying Home  Ted Heath
Foggy Day Gershwin
Girl from Ipanema Getz/Gilberto
Have I Told You Lately That I love You Jim Reeves/Buble
Heatwave Marilyn Monroe
Hit That Jive Jack Nat King Cole
How About You Judy Garland
I'll Be Seeing You Bing Crosby
I'm Begining To See The Light Ella Fitzgerald
In The Mood  Glenn Miller
I Only Want to Be With You Dusty Springfield
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby Louis Jordan
It Don't Mean A Thing Ella Fitzgerald
It's A Sin To Tell A Lie Billie Holiday
It's Been A Long Long Time Harry James
I Wish I Know How It Would Feel To Be Free Nina Simone
I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo Glenn Miller
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm Kay Starr
I've Heard That Song Before Harry James
Juke Box Saturday Night Glenn Miller
Jump Jive An' Wail Louis Prima
Jumpin' At The Woodside Count Basie
Lambeth Walk Billy Cotton
Leaning On A Lamp Post George Formby
Leroy Brown Frank  Sinatra
Let There Be Love Nat King Cole
Let’s Face the Music and Dance Fred Astaire
Little Brown Jug Glenn Miller
Lipstick on Your Collar Connie Francis
Look of Love Dusty Springfield
Luck Be A Lady Frank  Sinatra
Mack The Knife Armstrong/Darrin
Maigret Theme Joe Loss
Making Whoopee Dinah Washington
Mambo Italiano Rosemary Clooney
Midnight In Moscow Kenny Ball
Moonlight Serenade Glenn Miller
My Baby Just Cares For Me Nina Somone
My Blue Heaven Lena Horne
My Heart Belongs To Daddy Marilyn Monroe
Nice Work If You Can Get It Billie Holiday
Night And Day Cole Porter
Night Has a Thousand Eyes Bobby Vee
Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square Vera Lynn
One Fine Day Carole King
One For My Baby Frank  Sinatra
One O'Clock Jump  Count Basie
Opus One  Tommy Dorsey
Papa Loves Mambo Perry Como
Pennsylvania 6-5000 Glenn Miller
Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps  Doris Day
Put The Blame On Mame Rita Hayworth
Puttin On The Ritz Fred Astaire
RAF March Past Royal Air Force
Rainy Days and Mondays Carpenters
Rockin' In Rhythm Duke Ellington
Roll Out the Barrel/Beer Barrel Polka Andrews Sisters
Rum & Coca Cola Andrews Sisters
Sentimental Journey Doris Day/Les Brown
Sing Sing Sing Benny Goodman
Skyliner Charlie Barnet
Son of a Preacher Man Dusty Springfield
Soul Bossa Nova Quincey Jones/Austin Powers
Straighten Up And Fly Right Nat King Cole
String Of Pearls Glenn Miller
Stuff Like That There Betty Hutton/Bette Midler
Stupid Cupid Connie Francis
Sway Dean Martin
Sweet Georgia Brown   Ethel Waters
Tea For Two Edmundo Ros
That Certain Party Gatsby
That Old Devil Called Love Billie Holiday
The Black Bottom Gatsby
The Continental Harry Roy
The Folks That Live On The Hill Jerome Kern
The Man I Love Peggy Lee
Things   Bobby Darin
This Guy’s In Love Sammy Davis
Things Ain't What They Used To Be Woody Herman
Tiger Rag Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Tisket A Tasket Ella Fitzgerald
Tuxedo Junction Erskine Hawkins
Twentieth Century Fox Fanfare Art Deco
Ukulele Lady George Formby
Watch The Birdie Gene Krupa
We'll Meet Again Vera Lynn
When I Fall In Love  Ambrose
When Johnny Comes Marching Home Glenn Miller
Why Don't You Do Right? Peggy Lee
Witchcraft Sarah Vaughan
Woodchoppers Ball Woody Herman
Varsity Drag Dorothy McNulty
Yeah Yeah Georgie Fame
You Do Something To Me Cole Porter
You'll Never Know Rosemary Clooney
You’re Driving Me Crazy Rudy Vallee
You've Got To See Mamma Ev'ry Night Gatsby

Public Events

Social Dance 21st October 2023 - Ballroom, Latin American & Sequence - Whitby Dance Club Ellesmereport - All Welcome

Tickets from Cilla Smith 0151 3396085
Venue: Whitby Club, Dunkirk Lane/Chester Road, Ellesmere Port.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN GLENN MILLER MUSIC

Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show - 16th/17th September 2023

Very excited to have been invited to perform once again at the Imperial War Museum Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show this year.
The Debonaires will be performing between 9:00 & 13:00hrs each morning before the show starts. Apparently 15,000 visitors per day are expected and I understand why. The line up of aircraft is amazing and some categories of tickets sell very quickly and are only available in advance.

We will be doing our best to get that Battle of Britain feeling going with the great swinging hits of the 30's & 40's. Come and join us !

Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman

1940

Hello Folks, thrilled to announce we will be performing at the Lowther Pavillion Theatre once again in 2023, for the1940's Dance. It is an evening performance in the Theatre itself.
It is a wonderful professional venue, with a great dance floor so come and dance to Messrs Miller, Goodman, Ellington and Dorsey on the Lanchashire Riviera !
More details to follow, stand by. Max.

forties event, 40

WARTIME IN THE VALE - ASHDOWN WWII CAMP - EVESHAM- 17th JUNE 2023

I am very excited that the Debonaires have been asked to perform at the Wartime in the Vale weekend (17th-18th June 2023). This will be our second appearance and we had such a ball last year ! This will be a fabulous weekend of WWII hardware and fun. We will be playing for the Saturday night Ball, so keep an eye out on the WWV website and I will update you all here as details are finalised.
Keep the date !

Cha Cha, Rhumba, Paso Doble, Salsa

Social Dance - Palace Ballroom - Hindley Wigan - 1st October 2022

All are welcome to an evening of live music and dance at the Palace Ballroom / Hurst Dance Studios in Hindley, Wigan.

Ballroom - Latin American - Sequence - Dancing to Max Debon & the Debonaires !
tickets.info

spitfire squadron flying home Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show Airshow

Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show - 10th/11th September 2022

Very excited to have been invited to perform once again at the Imperial War Museum Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show this year. The Debonaires will be performing between 9:00 & 13:00hrs each morning before the show starts. Apparently 15,000 visitors per day are expected and I understand why. The line up of aircraft is amazing and some categories of tickets sell very quickly and are only available in advance.

We will be doing our best to get that Battle of Britain feeling going with the great swinging hits of the 30's & 40's. Come and join us !

1940's DANCE - LYTHAM ST. ANNES - 20th AUGUST 2022

Hello Folks, thrilled to announce we will be performing at the Lowther Pavillion Theatre once again in 2022, this time for the 1940's Dance.
It is a wonderful professional venue, with a great dance floor so come and dance to Messrs Miller, Goodman, Ellington and Dorsey on the Lanchashire Riviera !
More details to follow, stand by. Max.

WARTIME IN THE VALE - ASHDOWN WWII CAMP - EVESHAM- 25th JUNE 2022

I am very excited that the Debonaires have been asked to perform at the Wartime in the Vale weekend (25th-26th June 2022). This will be our first appearance I and it is looking like it is going to be a fabulous weekend of WWII hardware and fun. We will be playing for the Saturday night Ball, so keep an eye out on the WWV website and I will update you all here as details are finalised.
Keep the date !

jubilee celebrations Debonaires Little Big Band

HM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS - VICTORIA PARK STAFFORD

Very pleased to be part of the party in Stafford over the Jubilee weekend. There lots of things going on, but specifically if you would like to catch the Debonaires on the bandstand we are playing from 12:15 till 13:00 and 14:00 till15:00. Hope to see you there. Do give us a wave !

STAFFORD JAZZ SOCIETY

Delighted as always to be back at the White Eagle Club to play for the lovely members of Stafford Jazz Society, but especially so after two years due to this blinking pandemic. Still, organisers and musicians alike have been really responsible but lets keep our fingers crossed for May.
By the way it is NOT members only, the band and Nick and the members welcome Debs fans who have been missing us !
It is a Sunday lunchtime concert at 12:30 at the Polish Club, Stafford.


Please see all our other news & events

Contact Us

Max doesn't bite! Just pick up the phone and call Max Debon on 07979 501101.

If you prefer, please use our contact form or send him an email to

Find The Debonaires on Facebook  

Testimonials

“ Very Good morning to you Max

Thank you so much for performing for us at Wartime in The Vale - you were all amazing and I really appreciate your talent and professionalism. ”

K.R.

“ Thanks again for a great afternoon, and I’ve got to say, you guys have had some of the best feedback we have ever had – the entire room thought you were excellent ! ”

RH - Corporate Client

“ Max,
Thank you and the band for an excellent set it was absolutely fantastic. Everyone this morning as we are packing away has not stopped talking about the band.
Thank you again and see you next year I hope. ”

Flight Sergeant KW - MOD

“ Hi Max

Thanks for a great performance the feedback to us was 100% positive. We don't really have much choice about next year as we have (already) had requests for tickets for next years dance ! ”

GD Morecambe 1940's Revival

“ Thank you SO much to you all for playing the reception music at our wedding on Saturday. You were absolutely fantastic! You created the most warm, festive atmosphere to accompany the mulled wine and went completely out of your way to include Christmas songs we'd asked for. It was exactly what we wanted! Thank you, Scarlett xxx ”

Scarlett McGuinley-Hughes

“ If there was a prize for best dressed band this weekend's contestants would win hands down.

The band opened with a brief snatch of the theme tune to Strictly Come Dancing to herald Nick Balmforth in his role as compere onto the stage. This led on to songs from the 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s played in style by Leader and trumpet player - Max Debon, Austin Ralphson on the trombone, Rick Halliwell on the alto sax, Sarah Eastwood on clarinet and vocals, Peter 'Pedro' Robinson on double bass, Rob Turner on drums, Peter Wilson on keyboard and Anne Holder on saxophone.

We had it all - Mambo Italiano, The Folks who Live on the Hill, Stardust, American Patrol, Tiger Rag, My Baby Just Cares for Me and much much more, ending with an appropriate swing version of The Addams Family. In line with Strictly's favourite straight-talking Craig Revel Horwood it was Fab-u-lous ! ”

Stafford Jazz Society

“ Hi Max
I just want to place on record my sincere thanks to you all for your superb performance on Saturday night at my 50th Birthday Party.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the music and didn't want it to end. The dance floor was full throughout the night and with dancers of all ages. - a real tribute to your artistry.

Many of us woke up on Sunday morning quite bleary eyed but with so many of your wonderful tunes going around in our heads. You have created many many happy memories.

I will not hesitate to recommend you to other people.

Please convey my appreciation to the other band members.

With sincere thanks and good wishes.
Gary ”

Garry Poole

“ Thanks you for providing excellent music and I look forward to doing business with you again as you made my job a lot easier. ”

CM Flight Sergeant MOD Stafford

“ We would like to thank Max and The Debonaires for their fantastic music at our wedding on Saturday.
They were so accommodating and even added a new song to their repertoire as I requested Gary Smiths favourite song of Bring Me Sunshine, he was over the moon when he heard it.
So many of our guests were mesmerized by Max and the music, we had lots commenting on how fantastic they were and how lovely it was to have a proper band playing!
Everything was perfect from the initial e-mail to the very end, I can't recommend them highly enough. Thank you so very much x ”

Claire and Gary

“ Thank you Deboniares for the most amazing night. You were just superb and made our 1940s party such fun and got everyone on the dance floor! We're trying to think of future parties just so that we can book you again! Thankyou thank you thank you! ”

Nancy and Tom

“ Hi Max, thank you for the fantastic music on our opening night. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We will be in touch soon to arrange a repeat booking. ”

Ruth Newman - Redhouse Inn

“ Thank you for sounding so amazing last night, from start to finish we loved every minute of it. Adam Borriello (groom).

You guys were amazing! Thoroughly enjoyed your sets -Couldn't stop dancing and singing! Thank you for helping to make their evening special.Cazz Prior (Bridesmaid). ”

Wedding of Izzy & Adam

“ Hi Max,

On behalf of the Civic Mayor of Tameside (Councillor Vincent Ricci) and all his guests, please accept our sincere thanks for a fantastic evening.

The event was a huge success and we are all so grateful to the Debonaires for helping to make the occasion so memorable.

Thank you once again, it was a pleasure working with you.

Best wishes. ”

JG - Tameside Mayor's Office

“ Hello Max great to hear from you
I`d like nothing better than to book the Debonaires for a show next year- easily the best dance band I`ve booked EVER!! ”

DT / Middlewich Town Council

“ On behalf of the Commanding Officer of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, I would like to thank you so much for playing at our Battle of Britain Dining-In Night. Your contribution was greatly appreciated and I have received numerous positive comments following your performance last night.
The Debonaires captured the mood of the evening perfectly; the selection of music was ideal and, on a personal note, the RAF March as the Top Table left was the icing on the cake.
Please pass on my thanks to all members of The Debonaires - you all helped make the event a great success. ”

Project Officer - Battle of Britain Dining-In Night

“ Thanks Max, you did us proud. Fabulous band! ”

Lavender Ribbon Cancer Charity

“ Morning Max
Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you and your team .
Excellent , very professional, and also lovely people to work with . Your dedication and passion for your art is outstanding , and you took the evening to a different level with your music - amazing !
I would love to have you back to another supper club and hope you had a wonderful night yourselves .
Please pass on my thanks and appreciation again to your team , they were all excellent .
Hope to speak soon ,
Warmest Regards
Lady Absinthe x ”

Lady Absinthe / Buxton

“ I wanted to follow up on your wedding performance on the 24th November. Your band's performance was excellent and everyone had a wonderful time; I can't tell you how many people came up to me to ask where we found you and how good they said you all were. As a 'small' band you put out a 'big band sound', witness the crowded dance floor. ”

PM / Macclesfield

“ We all had a brilliant night at the Swingaroo christmas party - what a great party atmosphere - Awesome band, absolutely blew us all away at Swingaroo on Friday. Hopefully we're getting 'em back next year! ”

AD / Preston

“ Thanks again for playing at our wedding. The music was perfect for giving the drinks reception that 'vintage' feel and definitely added a touch of class! We have had so many lovely comments from guests. We really appreciated your professionalism on the day and beforehand in fitting round our ever changing plans and song preferences for the day. We will definitely be recommending the Debonaires to our friends for future events. ”

HB / Nantwich

“ We gave a great reception to the Debonaires. - as this 'small big band' reminded us of Duke, Glenn, Woody and others, and singer Sarah did the same for such as Ella, Peggy and Marilyn. Absolutely everything went with such a swing. ”

Brookdale Club / Stockport

Live Music, Swing Band, Lindy Hop, Dance Band

The Debonaires are based around Manchester, Birmingham, Cheshire, Staffordshire, essentially the Midlands and North West but are happy to perform at venues nationwide.