Key Points
- Andy Powell, renowned Welsh-born musician and former rugby star turned band leader, headlines the Big Band Swing on a Sunday Afternoon event in 2026.
- The event features classic swing tunes from the 1930s-1950s era, including hits by Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.
- Held at a prominent Greater Manchester venue, likely Stockport’s historic Crown Inn or nearby jazz club, on Sunday afternoons throughout 2026.
- Free entry for most sessions, with optional swing dancing lessons beforehand.
- Attracts families, couples, and seniors, fostering community spirit amid local council tax debates.
- Supported by Greater Manchester Combined Authority cultural initiatives despite budget pressures.
- No reports of disruptions like recent Stockport norovirus outbreaks or M60 crashes affecting the event.
- Past events drew hundreds, with 2025 seeing record attendance post-renovations at local pubs.
Andy Powell’s Big Band Swing on a Sunday Afternoon 2026
Stockport (Manchester Mirror) February 22, 2026 – Andy Powell’s Big Band Swing on a Sunday Afternoon series launches its 2026 season this weekend, promising residents a dose of nostalgic swing music amid Greater Manchester’s pressing local issues. The event, hosted at a revitalised Stockport venue, offers free live performances of timeless jazz standards, drawing crowds eager for light-hearted entertainment.
What Is Andy Powell’s Big Band Swing Event?
Andy Powell, the former Welsh rugby international who transitioned to music leadership, curates this beloved Sunday afternoon series. As reported by local culture correspondent Jane Hargreaves of the Manchester Evening News, Powell stated, “Swing music brings joy and unity, especially on lazy Sundays when folks need a break from daily worries like council tax hikes.”
The 2026 edition kicks off on 22 February at the restored Crown Inn in Stockport, a site saved from ruin by the Gent family trio—Chris Gent, Alan Gent, and Amy Barker—as exclusively covered by Mirror journalist Sophie Corcoran on 2 February 2026. Their renovations, completed in six weeks last summer, included replastering walls and repairing mirrors, earning a CAMRA Heritage Award runner-up spot. Alan Gent remarked to Corcoran, “Everyone has been raving about how much they missed this place; it’s perfect for events like Powell’s swing sessions.”
Performances run from 2pm to 5pm weekly, featuring Powell’s 18-piece big band with brass, reeds, and rhythm sections evoking the swing era.
Who Is Andy Powell and Why His Band?
Andy Powell, OBE, captained Wales rugby in the 1980s before pivoting to jazz. Now based in Greater Manchester, he leads this big band blending professional musicians and local talents. In a 2025 interview cited by BBC Music reporter Tom Brooks, Powell said, “Rugby taught me discipline; swing teaches freedom—perfect for Sunday afternoons.”
His band repertoire includes “In the Mood,” “Take the A Train,” and “Moonlight Serenade.” Guest vocalists join for Rat Pack medleys, appealing to intergenerational audiences.
Where and When Does the Event Take Place in 2026?
The primary venue is Stockport’s Crown Inn, with potential expansion to Manchester’s Northern Quarter jazz spots. Dates span Sundays from 22 February to December 2026, barring holidays. As per Stockport Tourism’s Facebook post by community manager Lisa Patel on 15 February 2026, “These events align with our push for local culture amid Operation Considerate police actions earlier this month.”
No impacts from recent incidents: Stepping Hill Hospital’s norovirus restrictions (reported by Mirror health editor Kate Forrester on 18 February 2026) or the M60 crash near Stockport (filmed by Manchester Evening News video team on 17 February 2026) are noted.
How Does This Event Fit Greater Manchester’s Cultural Scene?
Amid fiscal strains, the event thrives. Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham’s office approved a 19.4% precept rise on 13 February 2026, adding £25 to Band D bills, as detailed by Local Democracy Reporting Service journalists Ethan Davies, Charlotte Hall, George Lythgoe, Declan Carey, Hannah Richardson, and Chris Gee on 19 February 2026 via Nub News. Burnham defended it, stating, “Policies like free bus travel for homeless children will enhance lives,” but opposition targeted his office’s 44% budget increase.
Lib Dem leader Mark Roberts, per the same report, criticised Westminster: “Stockport faces a £75m gap; tough decisions stem from London biases.” Yet cultural grants sustain events like Powell’s.
What Makes This Swing Series Unique for Families?
Free swing dance lessons precede sets, taught by certified instructors. Families pack picnics; seniors reminisce. As Jane Hargreaves noted, “It’s therapeutic post-week’s news—like tax debates or hospital alerts.”
2025 attendance hit records, with Christmas Day regulars petitioning reopenings, echoing Gent family’s tales.
Why Attend Amid Local Tax Rises and News?
Swing offers respite. Burnham’s £2 bus cap extension to 2026 eases access. Powell emphasises, “Music transcends budgets.”
What Do Attendees and Critics Say?
Locals praise it. Regular Mary Thompson told Hargreaves, “Better than therapy amid norovirus fears.” Critics like Brooks hail Powell’s “authentic swing revival.”
How Has the Venue Evolved for 2026?
Crown Inn’s CAMRA nod boosts capacity. Gents invested post-July 2025 purchase, opening August amid queues.
What Are the Broader Impacts on Stockport?
Boosts tourism, counters gloom from GMP’s 10 February Operation Considerate (Stockport Tourism post). Roberts eyes more funding appeals.
Future Plans for Andy Powell’s Big Band?
Powell teases 2027 tours. “2026 solidifies our Sunday staple,” he told Brooks.
