When Stockport based trombonist Mike Pembroke joined 5 Potteries musicians for a “one-off” gig in the Spring of 2002, the evening was such a success that we all agreed that it should be replicated. Too lazy to think up a name, we resurrected the Old Fashioned Love Band, a successful Stoke on Trent group of the 1960s that had featured several of us at that time. Initially we were drawn to the repertoire of the Bunk Johnson, George Lewis, Ken Colyer bands but, and it was probably inevitable with the varied backgrounds and experience on hand, that the band would broaden its musical horizons. This has been achieved without sacrificing the traditional jazz approach and has led to us adding Eddie Condon, Bob Crosby, Muggsy Spanier and Alex Welsh favorites into the fold, along with some of the wonderful standards from the 1930s/40s. This approach enables us to continue presenting interesting varied and entertaining programmes.
The band is also fortunate to have three excellent vocalists, all with a vast reservoir of varied songs. Audiences at an OFLB concert will now be treated to a programme that can include every thing from little known tunes from the 20s to original compositions from the pen of cornet player Mel Hill. We naturally do not neglect jazz classics, but we do give them the now tried and tested OFLB treatment.
We regularly appear at Jazz Weekends and Festivals, Small Theatres and Village Halls in concert situations. With our wide variety of material we are also in demand for Fund Raising Events, Dinner Dances, Birthdays, Anniversaries and Corporate Events and naturally we tailor our programmes to fit in with what is required of us. Importantly we receive regular repeat bookings at all the jazz clubs within striking distance of our base in Stoke on Trent. This covers the West and East Midlands, Cheshire, Lancashire, North Wales, Merseyside and Yorkshire.
We have now recorded 6 very successful CDs and you can find details of our most recent one “I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music” by pressing the LATEST CD icon. This offers a taste of the wide range of music that we embrace, and which has made the band so popular.
Audiences really appreciate our professional presentation and our obvious enjoyment of playing together. This is demonstrated by the fact that we have often requested permission to start playing before the appointed time.








Tribute to Mike Turner - click here
Photographs by Sue Combridge, unless otherwise stated
Website designed by Sue Combridge
Come and be entertained!!!