Gerry sets pace for Sixties revival
Jul 31 2009 By Nick Hudson
EUROPE’S biggest Swinging Sixties revival show is heading for the Midlands next month.
Gerry And The Pacemakers, The Searchers, The Move, PJ Proby, Alvin Stardust and The New Amen Corner will share the stage at The Bowl, in Burntwood, on Sunday, August 9.
Joint top of the bill are Gerry and The Pacemakers and The Searchers, both celebrating 50 years in the business.
Liverpudlian Gerry Marsden’s group hold the distinction of being the first to have number one hits with their first three singles.
They are joined by The Searchers, with originals John McNally and Frank Allen, who also had three chart-toppers with Sweets For My Sweet, Needles and Pins and Don’t Throw Your Love Away. In May they were in Cyprus and within a few days of their return they headed off to Canada for four shows.
Between now and the end of the year, they are doing a 104-date UK tour to celebrate their half century in the music business, finishing up at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium on New Year’s Eve. Third on the bill is Birmingham’s The Move whose line-up boasts drummer Bev Bevan and Trevor Burton, one of four vocalists used.
Next up is Mr Coo Ca Choo himself – Alvin Stardust, who Ronnie Wood described as the “godfather of British rock ‘n’ roll”.
Then there’s comeback king PJ Proby who toured with The Who’s Quadrophenia roadshow in the mid-90s and had a track, Whatever Happened to PJ Proby, dedicated to him by Van Morrison before he bounced back in 2007.
Bringing up the rear is The New Amen Corner with ex-Tremeloes Chip Hawkes and Manfred Mann’s Mike d’Abo.
The summer of love special runs from 3pm-10pm on Sunday August 9, as part of a weekend of music for the Burntwood Wakes.
The day before, Saturday August 8, from 7-10pm, the Proms In the Park switches from Shugborough Hall to The Bowl, in Burntwood.
The Saturday show sees the combined talents of two of the Midlands’ best loved comedians, Don Maclean and Malcolm Stent, presenting Lichfield Garrick’s artistic director Adrian Jackson who will be conducting the 50-piece City Concert Orchestra and the 50 voices of the Midland Symphony Choir, as well as soloist Elizabeth MacDonald.
