THREE Inverclyde musicians are striking up the band to bring a taste of Strictly Come Dancing to Greenock.

Greenock pair Joe Baldi and Davy McLean, from AdLib Music, along with Joe McGrath, who lives in Inverkip, are preparing for their Grand Christmas Dance next month with local jazz ensemble Capitol Big Band.

They are on a crusade to revive the golden era of swing music and dancing which once graced famous venues across Inverclyde such as the Cragburn, Palladium and Burton’s.

Their mission has been aided in recent years with the public’s new-found love for ballroom, mainly thanks to hit BBC One show Strictly Come Dancing.

The band play on a Tuesday night at the Greenock Dockers Club on Tobago Street, but the annual festive extravaganza in the town hall is their showpiece event.

This year’s will take place on Friday 4 December and the local performers cannot wait to welcome both regulars and new faces.

Trumpet player Joe McGrath told the Tele: “There’s still a lot of people about who used to go to clubs for the dancing and to play in bands. It would be good to get them along and rekindle some old memories.

“It’s coming back into fashion because of Strictly. Lots of young people watch that on a Saturday night but have never tried ballroom, so if anyone wants to try it then they can come along to the dance or to the Dockers on a Tuesday night and they will be made more than welcome.

“It’s great fun.” Next year the band will celebrate 40 years of entertaining people from across Inverclyde and beyond.

As well as being renowned for their music, the band is also known for its unusual spelling of capitol, which derives from the first venue where the original line-up performed for the first time proper.

Up until 1976 there was a jazz ‘jam session’ every week in the RAF Club, but it switched to Hasties social club where there was a ‘Capitol Suite’ and the name was adopted.

The current line-up of 17 talented musicians will showcase their skills, accompanied by superb singers Heather Whiteford and John Griffin.

Joe said: “We’re looking forward to playing again in the town hall. It’s always a great venue for the band.

“It’s not often we get in there for an event like this.” Tickets are on sale now, priced £10. They are available from AdLib Music in Jamaica Street, Greenock, from the Dockers on a Tuesday night or by calling 520847.

l WE have teamed up with the Capitol Big Band to offer two pairs of tickets for the concert.

To be in with a chance of winning simply tell us one the name of one of the local band members.

Send answers, plus your name, address and daytime telephone number to Capitol Competition, 2 Crawfurd Street, Greenock, PA15 1LH, by 4pm on Wednesday 25 November.

Usual rules apply. Editor’s decision is final.