Client Testimonials

Below is a selection of the feedback we have received from clients who have booked the band. We are also extremely grateful to three couples who have provided in-depth reviews of our performance at their weddings.

Anthony & Becky's Wedding

...finding a band to play at your wedding is difficult... we certainly struck gold in finding Down for the Count

Rosalind & Oliver's Wedding

...we hunted high and low for a band with a broad repertoire, high quality vocals and instrumentals...

Paul & Diego's Wedding

...Down for the Count were with us throughout the day - we were absolutely blown away by them...

Venues & Clients

Clients

BNP Paribas
Nelson Bostock
E-On UK
The Royal Air Force
Oxford University Press
Goldcrest Land
GL Hearn
Mellon
Prestige Purchasing

Filming

Phillip Pullman's The Butterfly Tattoo
Phil Hawkins, 2008

Venues

ExCel London
The Berkeley Hotel, London
Pinewood Studios
Cafe de Paris, London
The Brewery, London
The Royal College of Physicians, London
Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, Oxfordshire
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, London
Gray's Inn, Inns of Court, London
Magdalen College, Oxford
The Oxfordshire Golf & Country Club
Buxted Park, East Sussex
The Rose & Crown, Henley-on-Thames
The Carriage House Restaurant, Claydon House

Dear Mike, now that we're back from honeymoon and getting into the swing of things again, we thought it was time to sart thanking the many people who helped to make our day - and evening - so special. You and the band were amazing!
Such a fantastic sound and a wonderful set - including the horn section on "All You Need Is Love" - made for a night we'll all remember for the rest of our lives.
Our guests and Jamie at Micklefield Hall have all commented on what a fantastic band Down for the Count are.
Thank you so much for being so flexible, so lovely to deal with - but most of all thank you so much for the wonderful music!!
All our very best wishes,

Victoria & Magnus, Wedding Reception
Micklefield Hall, June 2011

Hi Mike, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write to you but we had a pretty long honeymoon and since we've been back it has been non stop really! Thank you so much for the wonderful music you played at our wedding. Your band was just fantastic, more than we could have hoped for and you really made the evening part of the reception fun and vibrant. We had so many compliments about your band, my brother-in-law even said he preferred you guys to the band he had at his wedding, although I wasn't allowed to tell my sister that!

What I really loved most was that you were are very relaxed and friendly and that helped the vibe so that people could just have a great time dancing. I also was so happy when you played Sing Sing Sing and In The Mood as these are songs that I love and really wanted to hear but as you were in your 7-piece format I hadn't expected to hear them at all. I remember being at the cheeseboard on the other side of the marquee and hearing the drums start up for Sing Sing Sing and I just dropped everything and ran onto the dancefloor!

Thank you so much once again.

Katherine & Matt, Wedding Reception
Ely, May 2011

Oh, we do hope you enjoyed last Friday nearly as much as we did! Rosalind and Oliver had such a special time, which in no small part was down to you. Firstly with the lovely, dignified ceremony music, then the happy atmospheric quartet (and they loved the Louis Armstrong number) and that magnificent evening entertainment. There were people there we had known for thirty years and had never seen dance before! And the new Grandma had to go and fix her mascara after “Georgia On My Mind”. You all made it feel so special, and though you have moved on to the next events already, we hope you know that when “Down for the Count” are mentioned, it will bring on happy grins in the new Lambert family for at least the next forty years! All good wishes.

Susanne and Martin, Mother and Father of the Bride
Marlow-on-Thames, April 2011

I am delighted with how everything went in booking Down for the Count. The evening was an outstanding success in big part thanks to the Band. They were professional (and SO YOUNG!), courteous, great sound and combination of sets, and kept the floor full for most of the night - I really can't praise them more highly and the feedback both on the night and since has been ALL positive. We had used another band on our first Ball who were very good and I was slightly concerned that we couldn't match it - but Down for the Count overdelivered and I will definitely consider booking them again. Thank you all for helping to create a superb evening - I think a sign of a great event is when the band also has a good time, and I'm pretty certain that a good time was had by all at The Enigma Ball.

Martin Dale, The Enigma Ball
Milton Keynes, April 2011

Dear Mike, We're just back from our honeymoon and I wanted to say a big thank you to the band for such an amazing performance. Sorry I didn't get to say much on the night, as you can imagine it was a bit hectic! Your performance was perfect, I couldn't have imagined anything better, you were extremely professional and the music and singing was incredible - a beautiful entertainment group that completed a perfect evening. Thanks again, and please say a big thank you to everyone in the band.

James Smith, Wedding Reception
Marlow-on-Thames, July 2010

Down for the Count gave a great performance at the RAF Christmas Party. The arrangements for the band all went very smoothly, and the show on the night was first rate - the band even agreed to perform an additional set at short notice. They were virtually held hostage by the crowd until the end of their third encore! I’d have absolutely no hesitation in booking them again.

Ross Thompson, RAF Christmas Party
RAF Wyton, December 2010

Dear Mike, When I heard about you, a jazz, Rat Pack and soul band made up from former AGS and AHS pupils, I just knew you were perfect for our Ball to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Aylesbury High School. Now we are here on Monday after the Ball, I have to tell you how many people have contacted me to let me know how WONDERFUL Down for the Count were. You were professional, smart and above all flexible! You changed from a jazz quintet to greet our guests as they sipped champagne, to the full function band to dance to after the dinner. And dance! I have never seen a dance floor more packed for the whole evening. Everyone loved dancing to the Rat Pack set - so sophisticated! The soul set was perfect to dance to the end of the evening. You may have heard that no-one was prepared to let you off the stage - the "encores" could be heard in the next county! So a very big thank you from us all at AHS - you made the evening.

Fran Newman, AHS 50th Birthday Commemoration Ball
Oxfordshire, June 2010

Hi Mike, Just a short email to say how much we enjoyed having Down for the Count at our party on Saturday. You were absolutely fantastic. Very nice people, very smartly dressed, very well organised and flexible, and you even learnt a song that we requested! We were so happy with the band and would thoroughly recommend you to anyone. You were absolutely great. Thanks very much.

Ellie Porritt, 21st Birthday Party
Cheltenham, April 2010

Hi Mike, After our wedding last week we wanted to write to thank you and the band for your fantastic performance. We both had a brilliant day, as did our guests, and Down for the Count were a vital part of it, creating the perfect atmosphere. All three of the sets were spot on and really kept the night buzzing right through to the end of the party. So many people have commented on how much they loved both the music and the dancing and it will certainly live long in our memories. Thanks also for letting us plug in our laptop, use your mikes and for being so accomodating and flexible with our timings for the evening which went a bit off schedule. Thanks again for helping to make our wedding party so special.

Tom & Tracy, Wedding Reception
Stratford-upon-Avon, July 2009

Well, what a fabulous evening!! Thank you so much for making the party so enjoyable. All of our friends had a great time and several said "it was the best party ever"! They especially liked the music and were impressed by your repertoire and talent. We loved the jazz sets and I am sure you all noticed how many people were dancing to the soul set. Please pass on our thanks to the band and especially to you for your hard work and energy - you should get some follow on Gigs from the rave comments I heard.

Guy & Lin, 30th Wedding Anniversary Party
Buckinghamshire, June 2008

Dear Mike, Sarah and Jami are, of course, on honeymoon. However I couldn't wait until they return to send our own thank-you for your fantastic music at our daughter's wedding last Saturday. You were absolutely perfect and really hit the spot getting all ages on the floor - from age four to ninety! We will highly recommend you.

Lin Carey, Mother of the Bride
Oxfordshire, June 2008

I can honestly say that having the band play at our event was the highlight of our evening. From the moment we contacted them about a quote to the end of the evening they were always happy to work around our needs which took the pain out of the organising! Their flexibility, professional attitude but above all, their fantastic performance was exactly what we were looking for. I would not hesitate to recommend them for any event where you want to provide that 'something special' for your guests.

Sarah Curtis, E.ON UK Corporate Event
Coventry, September 2007

This talented group of young musicians under the mentorship of Mike Paul-Smith played recently at my 50th birthday celebration. I can honestly say that the band were not merely a part of the party, but that they made the party. The standard of musicianship and the panache with which they perform is a credit to them. They gave my family and 200 guests a lot of fun and ensured the evening went with a swing. Without exception the feedback from my friends was that they have not enjoyed an evening as much as this in a long time. Do not hesitate to book these guys. They’re great!