A better sort of band
The Legendary Swordsmen is a sixties covers band that plays at parties, weddings and other events in Oxford, London and around the country. We perform with a lot of energy and put on a fun and exciting show.
The Swordsmen set list is varied: rock‘n’roll dance tunes, country rock classics and great sixties singles.
We play two hour-long sets, and we can provide either a DJ or an iPod to fill the gaps. We always supply all our own PA and sound equipment.
Why we’re better
We are fun. Pure and simple fun, the kind of innocent for-all-the-family fun that disappeared in about 1969. That’s our secret ingredient.
Yes, we’re also reliable, efficient, qualified, experienced and sensible. But we have fun. And that means you have fun. And isn’t that what a great party is all about?
Let us play for you
Turn your speakers up, click play, and you can audition us for the gig. Feel free to take notes, chill out, or even have a little boogie. Whatever turns you on.
The demo has 6 full tracks, and should give you a good idea of what we sound like (or at least keep you amused while you read the rest of the page).
Most band demos you find on the internet will sound very produced, like something you might hear on Radio 2 in the middle of the afternoon. We didn’t do that because:
- it’s boring;
- it gives you no idea what the band sounds live.
We thought it would make more sense (and be more fun) to record a live set in the studio. So there are no overdubs, no edits, no fixes. Just three Swordsmen in a room playing our little hearts out. Enjoy the audition!
Still interested?
Songs
Think ‘Hits of the sixties’. Then add some less obvious Kinks, Small Faces, Creedence, The Band, Cat Stevens. Then watch us sneak into the seventies with David Bowie, Joe Cocker and some more Kinks. The whole list is down below.
Instruments
Let me introduce the band: ‘Beats’ on drums, ‘Thumbs’ on bass guitar, and ‘Fingers’ on piano, organ, acoustic guitar and lead vocals. We all sing. We all dance. We are legendary.
The Motto
The Swordsmen motto is si ferro vives vir morieris (Live by the sword, die like a man).
Requests
We love to get requests, both before and during the gig. It’s good to know what floats your boat. If we don’t know it, we’ll say so (and play something just as good!). And yes, we will always learn first dances for weddings.
Equipment
We own a full PA system which has been created specifically to squeeze the most fun out of the Legendary Swordsmen, and we take it to every gig to make sure we sound as great as we should. All we need from you is a power socket or two and some space to stand in!
Tell us about your event!
The Set List
- All I Have To Do Is Dream – The Everly Brothers
- Apeman – The Kinks
- Baby It’s You – The Beatles
- Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – Neil Sedaka
- Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison
- Build Me Up Buttercup – Foundations
- Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
- Changes – David Bowie
- Daydream Believer – Monkees
- Days – The Kinks
- Dedicated Follower Of Fashion – The Kinks
- Do Wah Diddy – Manfred Mann
- Down On The Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Everlasting Love – The Love Affair
- Fun Fun Fun – The Beach Boys
- Funny How Love Can Be – The Ivy League
- Great Balls Of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
- Help! – The Beatles
- Hi Ho Silver Lining – Jeff Beck
- How Do You Do it? – Gerry & The Pacemakers
- I Shall Be Released – The Band
- I’m A Believer – The Monkees
- I’m Into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits
- Itchycoo Park – Small Faces
- Keep On Running – Spencer Davis Group
- Let’s Go To San Fransisco – The Flowerpot Men
- Midnight Hour – Wilson Pickett
- Mony Mony – Tommy James & The Shondells
- My Girl – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
- Plastic Man – The Kinks
- Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Man
- Set Me Free – The Kinks
- Space Oddity – David Bowie
- Sugar And Spice – The Searchers
- Sugar Sugar – The Archies
- Summer In The City – The Lovin’ Spoonful
- Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks
- Sweets For My Sweet – The Searchers
- The First Cut Is The Deepest – Cat Stevens
- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
- The Weight – The Band
- Twist & Shout – The Beatles
- Up On Cripple Creek – The Band
- We Gotta Get Out Of This Place – The Animals
- Wild World – Cat Stevens
- With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
- …and so many requests, including:
- Piano Man – Billy Joel
- How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come Around? – Dr John
- Disney songs (especially the Jungle Book)
- Under Pressure/Ice Ice Baby
- 80s classics
- Handle With Care – The Travelling Wilburys