Solid Silver 60's Show

This is the 24th Solid Silver 60's Show, where the original hits are played by the original artists. The line up changes annually; Gerry and The Pacemakers and the Swinging Blue Jeans played last year, this time it is another selection of hit makers gracing the stage for an astonishing 56 dates the average age of the performers!



First to the stage is Wayne Fontana, named after DJ Fontana, Elvis Presley's drummer. Dressed in cowboy hat and stripy trousers, he has plenty of comical things to say about ageing disgracefully. He plugs a DVD and reads off the back cover, mistaking the words historical and Dolby for Hysterical and Dobbly. All innocent fun, though he does like the word "bastard".

When not wise cracking with those on the front row he puts out a strong vocal talent, covering songs such as The Temptations/Robinson/White's 'My Girl'. He also makes a good show of his own tracks 'Pamela Pamela' and 'Game Of Love' and of his band The Mindbenders track 'Groovy Kind of Love'.

He is backed by The Dakotas, who formally played with Billy J. Kramer. They carry on with what they started, performing as a top notch backing band.



Following this is The Merseybeats, all dressed in purple suits, keeping the 'Best Looking Group' title they gained in the Sixties. As well as their own hits, 'Wishin' and Hopin'', 'Don't Turn Around', 'I Think Of You', 'Poor Boy From Liverpool' and 'Sorrow' they cover the Everly Brothers' 'Let It Be'.

Speaking of something to do with The Beatles, they have a dig at Heather Mills, saying even with the payout she still moans! This prompts a flashy cover of McCartney's Bond track 'Live And Let Die', complete with small pyrotechnics on the stage and strobe lights. Their end cover of English / Weiss' 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' makes many of the crowd stand up and clap along.



Next up is John Walker of The Walker Brothers, backed again by The Dakotas and wife Cynthia on vocals. He has travelled from America for the show, and plays a whole host of his tracks like 'Make it Easy On Yourself', 'My Ship Is Coming In' plus Gaudio / Crewe cover 'The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)', Ray Charles' 'Unchained Heart' and Tom Rush's 'No Regrets'.

From the comedy of Fontana to the fancy set from The Merseybeats, this is a subdued set from Walker, though it goes down well.



Finally The Searchers finish the show, with stories and of course their hits. Many may say they did not write their own, but the American tracks they found and gave new life to would probably have disappeared into obscurity had they not. 'Needles and Pins', 'Sweets For My Sweet' and 'Don't Throw Your Love Away' are all catchy remakes, as is The Clovers' 'Love Potion No. 9'. The band are incredibly hard working, having just finished a tour of America and Australia in the last few weeks.

There are a few more covers made famous by themselves, like 'What Have They Done To The Rain', Gary Puckett And The Union Gap's 'Young Girl', and Dylan's 'Mr Tambourine Man' and a strange one of Bette Midler's 'The Rose'.

They finish after 'When You Walk in the Room' with Creedance Clear Water Revival's 'Rockin' All Over The World' to a standing sing along from the crowd. The crowd may be getting on a bit, as are the bands, but if my favourite bands are still going when they collect their bus passes I will be very happy.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.