Solid Silver 60s Show, at King George's Hall, Blackburn

I WAS struggling to see the attraction of this, the 15th anniversary of the Solid Silver 60s Show.

The Swinging Blue Jeans had barely a fistful of hits to their credit and the Searchers' two lead singers, who had helped take the band to the higher regions of the charts in the 1960s, have long since moved on.

But still the crowds continue to turn out - and seemingly enjoy themselves in the process.

Nostalgia, it seems, is not what it used to be - but what you believe it to be!

The Swinging Blue Jeans, with just two of their original line-up, came on stage first.

The band did a fine job of Gene Vincent's Say Mamma and an equally good performance of Be Bop A Lula. The audience loved Hippy Hippy Shake, the group's biggest hit - no faded jeans here!

The Searchers were very well received too. They are polished, smart performers, and I'm sure a "wow" on the cabaret circuit.

Peter Sarstedt performed a seemingly endless parade of his favourite 60s songs before cutting the mustard with a brilliant medley of his own material, including the wonderful Where Do You Go To.

Gerry and the Pacemakers topped the bill, with Gerry Marsden always in good voice and often funny.

Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying was particularly good. This self-penned hit made its mark in the charts in 1964 - the year, incidentally, I first saw Gerry and the Pacemakers on a similar package tour, with tickets costing 10 shillings (50p)!

Perhaps my initial misgivings were unfounded. It wasn't a bad night really.

JOHN VAUGHAN

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.