PAULA Walsh took her first dance steps to the music of her dad Terry's band Triad.

For back in 1975, while Triad were dominating Lancashire's country music scene, the as-yet-unborn Paula was taking her first kicks in time to the music.

For more than 10 years Triad was a name to be reckoned with, before the band split up in the early 1980s. The Darwen band appeared on Opportunity Knocks twice and made several appearances on BBC Radio.

Now 28, Paula is set to sing harmonies with Terry, on bass guitar, renowned singer James Donaldson and lead guitarist Kevin Cookson tomorrow when Triad reunite to play at Darwen Library Theatre.

Before an expected sell-out crowd Triad will strum through some old favourites like Hurricane Mitch and the Gordon Lightfoot song Softly.

They'll also remind people of the best of '70s folk music, playing hits like Jim Croce's I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song and Those Dreams.

Lead guitarist Kevin Cookson, 54, admitted it was a long time since the band last played together.

"In the end we split up because our lives just took over," he said. "Nothing goes on forever, except the Rolling Stones!

"However, people have been asking if we were considering getting back together again.

"It's not a permanent thing though -- it's just for one night."

Both Kevin and bass guitarist Terry Walsh are Darwen born and bred, and Glaswegian singer James Donaldson has lived in the town since the age of seven.

They were originally formed when Kevin put an advert in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph looking to form a band.

One of the people who responded was James, who asked Kevin if he wanted to join his band.

Kevin said: "I wasn't sure at first, but then I heard James sing.

"He is the most fantastic singer -- the best I have ever heard from this area."

Terry Walsh joined the group from a band called The Little Boy Blues on the eve of Triad's Opportunity Knocks appearance.

The group ended up being voted best runner-up on the programme -- an accolade that lead to their appearances on BBC Radio One and Two.

Kevin said: "Through doing things like that we became quite well known on the country music scene."

If you would like a ticket, call the Darwen Library Theatre box office on (01254) 706006.

The band may also make an appearance at the Darwen Music Festival on May 25 and 26.