Remembrance Day & Peacetime Celebrations Vintage Entertainment Inspiration

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns finally stopped in France, signalling the end of The Great War a.k.a. World War One. Every year, we remember the fallen of this and other world conflicts by wearing a poppy and observing a two minute silence at 11am on the 11th November.

It was a solemn moment this year as the Queen laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday, another 2014 landmark in the commemoration of 100 years since the start of World War One.

If you'd like to celebrate the hard-won freedoms we enjoy with a Remembrance Day or commemoration event, here are some acts that provide retro-style entertainment that evoke the spirit and music that helped people through the dark years of conflict.

1920s

The Bentley Brothers Inc take the hits of today and give them a 1920s 'update', with witty, entertaining and musically clever results!

1930s

Toffs in Tails recreate the dance craze music of the 1920s and 30s, when dress hems were high and the Charlston all the rage. Stylish, eloquent and 'jolly good fun'!

The Prohibition Jazz And Blues Band bring the edgy feel of 1930s America to life with songs dealing with the issues of the day; easy riders, bootleg booze and trying to stay out of the jailhouse!

Sweet Nightingales will whisk your guests back to the 1930s with intricate melodies, stunning harmonies and unpredictable rhythms, all accompanied by a group of jazz musicians.

1940s

Bring the 1940s up to date with Nancy and Pearl, a talented ukulele duo that perform classic songs from the 1940s and put a retro twist in today's top tunes too.

S.O.S. (Sirens of Swing) will sing up a storm with wartime favourites and modern chart hits given a 1940s dose of glamour and style à la the Andrews Sisters.

The Victory Rolls specialize in close harmony, vintage looks and superb vocals, for a 1940s vibe at any event.

1950s/60s

The Stupid Cupids are an exciting 50’s/60’s showband, with authentic costumes, great vocals and spot-on harmonies.

Booking your ‘back in time’ band from Alive Network couldn’t be easier; simply click on the profiles to read more and hear the bands in action. Or call the Alive Network team for more ideas for your celebration party.

And if you have time over the next few days, do go and see the ceramic poppies in the moat of the Tower of London. The last poppy will be planted on 11th November after which they will be removed, but there is a call for the installation to remain in place one week longer. Even if the poppies don't get an extra week’s grace, it’ll still take at least a couple of weeks for the 11,000 volunteers to carefully remove each poppy, so there will be plenty of poppies to see and reflect on.