BEFORE helping to form 10cc in 1972, Manchester’s Graham Gouldman was already a successful songwriter.

The first set of this excellent touring show features gorgeous acoustic versions of numbers he wrote for Manchester’s ’60s bands – The Hollies’ wonderful Bus Stop and Look Through Any Window, Herman’s Hermits’ evocative No Milk Today, and Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders’ nostalgic Pamela.

The innovative tempo shifts in The Yardbirds’ bluesy For Your Love is a clear indication of where Gouldman’s increasingly ambitious song-writing would lead.

The pulsating second set is pure 10cc, opening with the catchy Wall Street Shuffle and The Things We Do For Love.

Intelligent and imaginative lyrics combine with quirky and unusual melodies in Life Is A Minestrone and I’m Mandy, Fly Me.

Subtle and complex arrangements blend with tight vocal harmonies and sizzling lead guitar on the hooky Art For Art’s Sake and Second Sitting For The Last Supper.

Almost 40 years since their extraordinary first single Donna (now with an up-dated phone ring-tone!) 10cc are still filling theatres and delivering classy live pop music.

The lushly layered I’m Not In Love with its rich creamy harmonies and ironic lyrics is an unforgettable mini-symphony.

This terrific show’s finale featured the homage to reggae music Dreadlock Holiday with its rewritten and venue-friendly lyric: “I don’t like Bournemouth – Oh no – I love it!”

The encore Rubber Bullets raised the old Pavilion’s roof and sent the happy audience out singing into the warm night.