SOUTHPORT has an unjustified reputation for being primarily one of the favourite retirement zones for "wrinklies" in the North West.

It's true that its stately ambiance is hardly that of a rip-roaring seaside town but it's a long way from being a "cemetery with traffic lights," the cruel barb often slung at Morecambe by pier-end comedians.

Anyone who thinks otherwise can't have been at the recent Southport Jazz Festival, which featured a huge list of professional and semi-professional musicians and singers, ranging from famous names to regional favourites.

And I can this week pass on information about an event that it will ensure the resort's reputation in the entertainment business goes stratospheric!

How about this for a double bill: George Benson and Jamie Cullum. No, you are not seeing things. Tickets are already on sale.

The link-up is truly a mouth-watering prospect with Benson, one of the world's great entertainers, and Cullum, who in a few short months has shot to international acclaim under the patronage of TV chat show host Michael Parkinson and following news that he has signed a £1million recording contract.

George Benson is a brilliant jazz musician but he made the cross-over effortlessly to more commercial sounds in the 1970s with his distinctive voice and guitar sound. He has had a string of hits worldwide and was part of Stevie Wonder's backing band in his earlier days.

However, he has never strayed too far from his roots and some of his work is reminiscent of the late Wes Montgomery, one of the finest jazz guitarists I have ever heard.

Jamie Cullum played to a sell-out audience at the Southport Jazz Festival and continues to gather fans by the truckload. This young man is destined for greatness and the fact that he will be appearing alongside a musician of George Benson's calibre so early in his career is going to look especially good on his CV.

The open air concert will take place on Friday, August 1, at the Victoria Park, in Southport. This is an unbelievable coup for the town as Benson will be making only two other UK appearances on his current world tour -- at London's Royal Albert Hall and the Glasgow Music Festival.

Tickets are £25. Call Ticketmaster on 0870 1000 000; Radio City/Piccadilly box offices on 0161 832 1111 or the Southport Arts Centre on 01704 540011 or visit www.ticketline.co.uk.

Gary Cox, who made his name as lead tenor sax with the wonderful BBC Northern Dance Orchestra, will be the featured guest musician with the resident Tommy Melville Quartet at the Rhythm Station in Rawtenstall next Tuesday.

Scottish-born Gary is a brilliantly inventive jazz soloist and well-known in the North West through his work in jazz clubs and festivals. I have no doubt that a number of his friends and admirers from across the area will make the pilgrimage to Rawtenstall to see him.