Paul Richards marks your card for the upcoming week in music in and around Huntingdonshire.

GIG OF THE WEEK: SIMPLY BIG BAND @ THE CORN EXCHANGE, CAMBRIDGE

NOW joined by acclaimed vocalist Ian Mackenzie (who has many celebrity fans including Kavin Spacey), Simply Big Band hits Cambridge this week for a stunning show of jazz, swing and salsa.

Playing entertaining renditions of classic hits including ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing’, ‘Let’s Face The Music’ and ‘Cry Me A River’ among many others, the show features a 26-strong orchestra, a troupe of stunning dancers and several guest singers.

Mackenzie said: “I’m really excited to be coming on board as comp�re for this new show. It’s a rare treat to be able to perform with such a large ensemble of fantastic musicians and in a show which also incorporates great costumes and dance routines – just like they did it in the old days!”

Tickets are selling well but some are still available for the Cambridge performance of the show, which takes place at The Corn Exchange on Saturday (February 12).

To book, call the box office on 01223 357851.

NEWS: FOLK BAND SEEKS DRUMMER AND FIDDLE PLAYER

THREE members of acclaimed rock covers band Burlesque are forming an additional band – to play prog-folk music.

Fronted by Penny Lane, the band aims to play music that is very different to any other covers band, with tracks by the likes of Rush, Blackmore’s Night, Jethro Tull and Alison Krauss all planned for the set.

The trio are looking for a drummer and fiddle player to complete the line-up. Anybody who is interested should check out Burlesque’s website at www.burlesquerockband.com .

Meanwhile, with their classic rock set, Burlesque themselves can be seen gigging frequently in the forthcoming months, with the following live dates: February 18, The Cross Keys, Peterborough; February 19, Rose & Crown, Somersham; February 25, The Bluebell, Peterborough; February 26, Kings Cliffe Club, Peterborough; March 4, Floods Tavern, St Ives; March 11, Red Lion, Eye; March 25, Watercress Harry’s, Kettering; and March 26, The Cherry Tree, Peterborough.

NEWS: CHARITY GIG RAISES �350 FOR CHARITY

CONGRATULATIONS to Allan’s Promotions, who hosted a charity gig in aid of Papworth Hospital, raising �350 in the process.

The show, which was held at The Black Bull in Godmanchester, was on behalf of Mrs Catherine Sullivan, who is currently undergoing treatment in the thoracic department at Papworth Hospital.

Surviving Sunday, Richie And The Runners, Between The Seasons and Cheap Machines all played, and there was also acoustic music from James Silverside, Katy Watts, Cullen, Aleatoric and Tom Tilbury.

GIGS ROUNDUP

Another exciting week kicks off this Thursday evening, when Tom Tilbury performs at The Zebra pub in Cambridge in a free entry show which will also feature sets from Lewis Mockler and Nik Lowe.

On Saturday evening, classic rockers Blue Haze will be playing at the The Aviator in St Ives (free entry), while in Cambridge at The Cornerhouse critically acclaimed world music band Sunday Driver will be playing songs from their new album, with support from Flaming June and Treehouse (�6 entry).

On Monday evening at The Portland Arms (Cambridge) fans of punk music will be interested to know that Victory Point will be performing.