TWO cracking shows in a week prove that little theatres can handle big bands and all that jazz...

Chris Dean once again brought the Syd Lawrence orchestra to Blackpool's Grand Theatre and delivered a striking and well-balanced set of big band classics including: Strike up the band, Basin Street Blues and Take the A train. Vocalist Angie Mills also gave us a number of classics including I only have eyes for you before joining Chris and two other members of the band for a mello-tones version of I got a gal in Kalamazoo and Chattanooga choo-choo.

The usual high standard of musicianship, vocals and harmonies on display in abundance. and encouragingly half the band were younger than myself although to be fair some of the others have got more than a fair head-start on my 42 years.

Great tunes, well-played by a clever and smart band who proved that us oldies occasionally like it loud too!

Notable performance too from Lytham trumpeter Terry Reaney.

Similar offering from the Glenn Miller Orchestra a week later... an all-American outfit we are told, who offered a winning set of Miller classics and, let's be fair, they can't go wrong can they? Both shows were well-appreciated by a fairly -packed theatre crowd.

If you haven't seen either band before catch them next time... it's a great night's entertainment. if you have you'll probably be going again anyway!