MENTION George Gershwin or Hoagy Carmichael to band leader Sean Bolan and it is like setting a match to a firecracker.

"The music of the '20s and '30s was of the highest calibre possible," he says.

"There were all these great musicians and lyric writers working for dance bands or shows."

Sean is bringing his own swing band, the Charleston Chasers, to Ludlow Assembly Rooms on September 25.

Some may remember the group's previous visit, to the town's festival in the early 1990s.

So this month's gig is a long overdue return.

He insists there is no question of his programmes being slavish reproductions of recordings from the past.

"The music is a great challenge and it is extremely difficult to do it well," he explains.

"Sometimes an old recording is a starting point and we change and arrange it for the band."

Five of his 10 musicians double up as vocalists.

One of the key members is pianist Raina Reid, who is also a very versatile arranger.

Ask Sean for his personal favourites among the musicians of the period and it is difficult to stop him.

He starts with Bix Beiderbecke and Paul Whiteman before naming Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Duke Ellington.

Then there are Charlie Kunz and Fats Waller.

These names, and some almost forgotten ones like French pianist and bandleader Jean Goldkette, are likely to feature in his Ludlow programme.

"I'd like to give our Ludlow audience a taste of the passion of the music of the '20s," he explains.

"It's not dead music, it makes you feel young and fresh and lively"

Tickets are selling well and are available from the Assembly Rooms on 01584 878141.

The programme starts at 7.30pm and Sean promises to bring along some of the band's CDs for sale on the night.