Will it be a white Christmas......?

We are now into the busy Christmas period and had a hectic weekend with the Mistletoe Ball on Friday 3rd December at the Dorchester. This year the event was sold out and they even had a waiting list for tickets, maybe this is a sign that at long last the economy is beginning to improve. Interestingly we didn't play at this event last year and everyone who came up to talk to us all said the same thing the band last year were too loud. Because we have such a modern and sophisticated PA system we can control the volume so that we can keep the noise to a sensible level without deafening the guests.


Then on Sunday we were off to the Berkeley for a Ruby Wedding Anniversary and 60th birthday party. More often than not we are asked to play in the evening, but this was a lunchtime party and what a great party if was too.

Welcome return to the Savoy

November 20th saw a return to the newly refurbished Savoy when we played for our old friends at British Compressed Air. It was great to be back in the Lancaster Ballroom again and reassuring to find that the great Savoy had lost none of its charm and elegance. As well as The Dark Blues, Billy Smart's Circus were also on hand to entertain the guests so it was a fun packed evening.

Local Event at Rothamsted

This was a really nice intimate 50th birthday party at Rothamsted Manor which is very local for us. Strangely enough it was the first time we had performed at Rothamsted and we all said what a super venue it was and the staff couldn't have been more helpful.

Combined 100th Birthday Celebrations

At the end of September we performed at a great combined 100th Birthday Celebration for a husband and wife in Hampshire. It was a super party for over 200 guests with a hog roast in a marquee and the band played for dancing in a large converted barn. Everyone danced well into the night and we finished off with Sal our DJ playing until the last guests left the party.

Portugal with Tim Minchin

We had a great two day event in the Algarve in September when we went out to play for the MIDA Conference at the brand new Tivoli Victoria Hotel in the Algarve. After performing on the Friday night round the pool when we provided a mellow jazz trio we then performed with the full line-up on Saturday for a gala dinner to end the conference. The client had also booked the very funny and very talented Tim Minchin to entertain the guests and everyone agreed it was a truly fabulous night.

Summer Weddings

The band played at lots of weddings during July and August as well as two 50th birthday parties in Sussex. There were memorable weddings at Stowe School where there was a Caribbean theme as the groom and his family came from Tobago so as well as our regular dance music we played lots of Bob Marley and reggae. We had two super weddings at the brand new Warren Weir complex at Luton Hoo and a Dark Blues fan booked the band for his daughter's wedding at Merchant Taylors Hall.

The Dark Blues Picnic June 2010

Following another hugely successful Dark Blues Picnic at the Herts Showground on Saturday night when we had over 600 guests attending our annual event we raised over £4,000 through our raffle for Grove House Hospice in St Albans which was a wonderful achievement.




Please forward me details of next years Dark Blues picnic so I can host another table. Great success this year, thanks and Well Done!

Nicola waters

Great fun as always. Well done. We are hoping to host at least two tables next year.
Thanks
Rachel Heaphy

Dear All just wanted to say a big thank you again for organising another
fabulous evening. We all really enjoyed it as always. Thank you also for
the position of our table, just brilliant. We were up dancing all night.
Already looking forward to 2011!!

Regards Kate


Dear Nigel, Fiona and Team

Just a quick note to say thank you so much for a fabulous evening on Saturday, we had a great time - I have never been before, but definitely will be back next year. Please let me know the date so I can organise a bigger table !

The band (as expected) was first class - the best night out I've had in a long time.

Huge thanks for placing us in the marquee with the dance floor - just made the night totally perfect.

Hope you can manage to have some well earned rest this week

Thanks very much again

Ali


Alex

This was the first time that my wife Dee and I attended this event and would like to congratulate you and your committee on a very well run event.

We were guests of the Dubowitz's and certainly hope to attend again.

Best wishes

Alastair

A very happy family wedding 27th March 2010

This was a truly lovely country wedding at the bride's home in Hurstpierpoint in a marquee where everything had been chosen with great care and the theming was all a little bit different. The colour scheme was blue and yellow and had a rustic feeling with checked table cloths and barrels and haybales scattered around the marquee. The Dark Blues started the dancing with Queen's 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' and then kept the dance floor full until the fireworks. The bride and groom then left on the back of a tractor, but with The Dark Blues still keeping the party in full swing the happy couple changed their minds and came back to join in the fun until the small hours!

The Children's Trust Ball - 20th March 2010

A huge amount of money was raised for this worthy charity of in excess of £100,000 which was a fantastic achievement and the organisers were truly delighted. Celebrity guests included Phil Tuffnell, Salley Kettle, Ed Stewart, Jimmy White, John Virgo, Sophie Kinsella, Chris Cowdrey and Guy Portelli.

Following the auction when Charlie Ross did a tremendous job of encouraging the guests to bid for the fantastic prizes that were on offer The Dark Blues performed wellinto the small hours.

Spring Weddings

You can always tell when spring is on the way with the start of the wedding season and the band have played at some lovely weddings just recently. There was a lovely one at the Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey

Katie and Paul wanted continuous music throughout the day so as well as The Dark Blues playing for them we provided a DJ as well. The couple's first dance was to Louis Armstrong's 'All The Time in the World' and then the rest of the guests joined them and kept the dance floor full until midnight.