Details of major concerts this week.

THE BLUES Band are among Britain's finest practitioners in the art of the blues - which is one of the reasons why they have managed to remain so popular for a quarter of a century.

To help them celebrate their 25th anniversary, they are returning to the Theatre Royal Winchester this week for a special concert.

Over the years The Blues Band has inspired numerous other blues bands, many of which have since fallen by the wayside while The Blue Band have remained a constant, increasingly-popular fixture of the music scene.

During their time together they have recorded 16 albums and been on countless tours, with their popularity extending throughout and beyond Europe.

The Blues Band are coming to Winchester on Tuesday, September 7.

Tickets: from £14. Box office: 01962 854355.

THERE'S a great double-bill for music fans at The Fleming Arms, Swaythling on Friady, September 3.

Energetic 80s ska and two-tone band Bad Manners are headlining, with support from rising Southampton band The Score.

Bad Manners are fronted by the larger-than-life Buster Bloodvessel. Fans can look forward to hearing plenty of familiar songs from the band's back catalogue of hits, including Can Can, My Girl Lollipop, Special Brew, Lip Up Fatty and Just a Feeling.

The Score will be playing a mix of modern ska and two-tone, underpinned with a dash of punk.

Information: 023 8058 4358.

DIG out your best dress or don your tux - this weekend you shall go to the ball.

Liquid Entertainment's Summer Ball 2004 comes to Southampton Guildhall on Saturday, September 4.

The evening will feature four hours of live music, courtesy of bands Contrast and Clear Cut as well as a DJ. There will also be casino tables, a champagne bar, a raffle, with proceeds going to Leukaemia Busters, and much more.

Box office: 023 8063 2601.

PIANO 'stylist' Martin Litton is set to play an exquisite, eclectic repertoire of jazz at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh on Wednesday, September 8.

Martin, a regular at the club, takes centre stage for this International Jazz night.

Throughout his career, Litton has played and recorded with some of the finest musicians around, including Scott Hamilton, Wild Bill Davidson, Humphrey Lyttleton, Digby Fairweather and the Pizza Express All Stars but this is his first time as a featured artist at the Concorde.

Tickets: from £7. Box office: 023 61 3989.

THE ultimate party show for anyone who grew up in the decade of glitter rock comes to Ferneham Hall, Fareham, this week.

Hold on Tight it's 70s Night will be at the venue on Wednesday, September 8, so dig out your flares and tie-dye tops.

The multi-talented cast of ten fantastic singers and musicians will reproduce the greatest hits of the 70s, including the music of Abba, Status Quo, David Essex, Elton John, Gloria Gaynor and Stevie Wonder.

Tickets: £13. Box office: 01329 231942.

TOP hats and tails come to The Regent Centre, Christchurch on Friday September 3 for an evening of the music of George Gershwin and Irving Berlin.

Noted for Music's show, By George, It's Irving, takes audiences on a non-stop journey through the music of Gershwin and Berlin, recalling the golden age of stage and film musicals.

The sparkling evening stars Andrea Martin and her pianist Andrew D Brewis.

Relax to the sound of such songs as Alexander's Ragtime Band and God Bless America as well as tracks from musicals including Girl Crazy, Lady, Be Good and Porgy and Bess.

Tickets: £9. Box office: 01202 499148.