Now in its 24th year, this enjoyable show features five acts whose hits and heyday were over 40 years ago – yet they still play live, and rock!

Opening the show are The Dakotas – excellent musicians.

Wayne Fontana is an engaging old pro with an endearing sense of club-land comedy and a rangy voice on his hits Game Of Love, Pamela, and the bizarrely titled but catchy Um Um Um Um Um Um. The Merseybeats play a lovely version of The Everly Brothers’ Let It Be Me, amongst their hits Wishin’ And Hopin’, I Think Of You, and Sorrow.

American John Walker tries to deliver the Walker Brothers’ big ballads, Make It Easy On Yourself and No Regrets.

However, it was Scott Walker who had the powerful and distinctive voice and John’s version of The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More and My Ship Is Coming In seems weak in comparison.

The Searchers’ best number is the haunting post-nuclear holocaust What Have They Done To The Rain?

Their catchy hits Sweets For My Sweet, Needles And Pins, and Don’t Throw Your Love Away are mixed with less successful covers of Hey Mr Tambourine Man and Young Girl, both played too fast.

Despite their classic Every Time That You Walk In The Room, there’s over- insistence on audience singalongs and the encore of Quo’s Rockin’ All Over The World and a taped Land Of Hope And Glory is just odd!

Brendan McCusker