About Us

1920s 1930s 1940s Dance & Jazz Band – The Red Fez Orchestra

Led by James Rawlinson The Red Fez Orchestra & Red Fez Orchette ( 1920s 1930s 1940s Dance & Jazz Band ) plays music of the 1920s, 30s & 40s,  a golden era of Jazz & Art Deco style which produced some of the world’s greatest dance bands, introduced us to ‘Flappers’ and the iconic dance crazes – The Charleston & Black Bottom.

The full 11 piece band is fronted by the handsome and debonair William Keel-Stocker. When she’s not touring India and Far East we are joined by the sultry songstress Kate Skellern who has injected some much needed sex appeal into the band.  The RFO plays music from some of the great composers of the 1920’s, 1930’s & 1940s such as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Jerome Kern etc. and features the well known songs The Charleston, Cheek to Cheek, Anything Goes, Putting On The Ritz, The Continental, Pennies From Heaven, Mean To Me,Black Bottom, They Can’t Take That Away from Me, Home in Pasadena, The Sheik of Araby and many, many more.

In 2018 The Red Fez Orchette was formed, creating a smaller different line up of instruments. This smaller 7 piece band includes Violin & Viola as well as more conventional instrumentation.

The Red Fez Orchestra & Orchette features the talents of some of the UK’s finest musicians who have played with famous names in 1920s 1930s & 1940s Dance & Jazz Band music. They all come together to create a Great Sounding, Fez wearing, Macassar Oil, Hair Slicked Dance Band. We can provide a full theatre style show or simply provide music for dance all performed in character with authentic dress. The Fez are influenced by the old dance bands of the 1920s, 1930s & 1940s as well as the more recent revival bands such as The Temperance Seven, Bonzo Dog Band, Peter Skellern and we aspire to produce performances that are authentic as well as entertaining for contemporary audiences.

Red Fez Orchestra - 11 piece line up including 2 singers.
The Red Fez Orchette performing at The Burgh Island Hotel for their end of year dinner and dance.

The RFO are available for

  • Parties
  • Weddings
  • Corporate Events
  • Award Ceremonies
  • Balls, Functions, Shows
  • Anniversaries, Birthday Parties,
  • Vintage Evenings, Speakeasy Parties
  • Great Gatsby Nights & Vintage Festivals.

Based in Dorset & Hampshire we are happy to travel within the UK, Europe & The Colonies. If you are interested in watching The Red Fez Orchestra perform live then check our Performances Page and or sign up to our Mailing List for news about the band.

We can supply Flapper Dancers, Charleston Girls, Actors, & Belly-Dancers, Vintage DJ’s on request. Contact us and we will be happy to tailor our performance and set-list to your specific needs.