Regulars on the UK blues, jazz and swing club scene, The 251s have been growing fast in popularity. Playing packed regular late-night residences at the world famous Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues Bar in Soho, has boosted their profile on the blues circuit. They’ve attracted the attention of Digby Fairweather’s Jazz Centre UK, playing to a sell-out audience, while filling the dance floors with the formidable Planet Swing, as well as playing London’s legendary 100 Club.
During the pandemic the band adapted quickly, recording two studio albums. The first entitled “Staying Home” caught the ear of Cerys Matthews’ Blues Show on BBC Radio 2 with several tracks played live.
Blues in Britain’s Trevor Turley said of the album “A no brainer of a sell-out on the evidence of ‘Staying Home’ …Love it” and award-winning blues and jazz singer Katie Bradley said “ …so much groove, great creative guitar solos and a brilliant rhythm section… was like escaping to a grand music hall, I could picture hundreds of dancers… the kind of band I’d like to play with”.
A follow-up album called ‘Bout Time! saluted the fact that The 251s could once again look forward to getting back out and performing live.
Moving into 2023 the band has seen an uptick in prestigious show bookings. They took time to film three of their regular songs live, with vintage dancers at The Hustle Club, aiming to meticulously capture the vibe and atmosphere of the late-night Soho speakeasy jazz clubs and dinner-dance venues of the late fifties and sixties.
Like PizzaExpress, The 251s pay tribute to iconic music and musicians of the past and present.