Playing the music of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and other jazz legends, the Victory Swing Band is bringing its signature blend of swing, Latin and jazzy blues music to the Franco Center’s first dinner-and-dance event of the season. All of the band’s members hail from the Greater Portland area.

“Musically, we cover a number of bases,” said James Rey, the band’s spokesperson and its regular trumpet player. “We have a large book of hundreds of tunes, what some refer to as ‘the Great American Songbook,’ many of which are the danceable standards.”

The event kicks off at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 7 p.m. On the menu are jumbalaya, sausage, bourbon sweet potatoes, onions and peppers, all topped off with King Cake.

It’s part of a busy weekend at the Franco Center. Sandwiched around Saturday’s dinner and dance event are a performance on Friday, Feb. 22 by Phish tribute band Pardon Me, Doug and the Franco Center’s first-ever Wedding Workshop, a free event on Sunday afternoon where engaged couples can receive expert advice from a wide range of wedding industry professionals.

Tickets for Saturday’s dinner and dance with Victory Swing Band are $22 per person in advance and $24 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.francocenter.org, by phone at 207-689-200, or by stopping by the Franco Center box office at 46 Cedar St., Monday through Friday between noon and 4 p.m.


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