The Solid Silver 60s Show - Touring UK this Spring 2011

THE Solid Silver 60s Show is a show that has become, over the last 26 years an institution, a household name, a true phenomenon reconfirming that the 60s are as relevant today as they have ever been. Throughout its 26 year history The Solid Silver 60s Show has had no less than 23 top ten charting artist and bands on its bills. Legendary talents such as The Searchers, Bobby Vee, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Del Shannon, Billy J Kramer, Chris Montez and The Troggs have clocked up between them 284 weeks (over five years!) in the No.1 position, 977 weeks (equalling over 18 years!) within the Top Five chart position and a staggering 1,375 weeks (a poetic 26 years!) within the Top Ten. As usual the mammoth tour, to meet popular demand, spans over four months covering 57 dates, with 68 shows. Creator and Founder of The Solid Silver 60s Show Derek Nicol of Flying Music, when asked how long he intends to tour this iconic brand, answer’s:- "Who knows.... I have often been asked this and I always reply that as long as the audiences keep coming and we can promise a great show, we’ll keep delivering."

The Solid Silver 60s Show features the unforgettable talents of Dave Berry, Chris Farlowe, Wayne Fontana, Terry Sylvester (formerly of The Hollies) all backed by Vanity Fare and very special guests The Merseybeats. The artists involved in these shows consistently pull in the crowds, giving testament to the popularity throughout the years and generations for the acts and songs of the 60s. This tour is particularly special as it is the first time Terry Sylvester (formerly of The Hollies) has joined The Solid Silver 60s Show and also the first time he has toured the UK for 30 years! Terry says:- “The line up looks great and I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends I’ve not seen in a long time. Over the last 17 years I’ve done lots of tours of the USA and Canada with Gerry Marsden & Billy J. Kramer and they’ve told me how much fun everybody has (on a Solid Silver 60s tour). My old pal Dave Dee used to call me sometimes when he was on the tour and say what a great time he was having. I’m looking forward to being on stage because it’s been over 30 years’ since I appeared in the UK. Hopefully I’ll get to meet some of the fans as well.”

The Solid Silver 60s Show is proof incarnate that the timeless classic song writing and feelgood factor of this legendary decade continues to excite and delight generations young and old. Featuring the hit songs The Crying Game, Handbags and Gladrags, Game of Love, Um Um Um Um Um Um, He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, The Air That I Breathe, Don’t Turn Around and many more. These songs are constantly covered by contemporary artists, classics such as The Crying Game (Boy George 1992) and Handbags and Gladrags (Stereophonics 2001), or inspiring film titles ‘The Crying Game’ (Neil Jordan’s 1992 movie) or used in television adverts He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother famously hitting the Number 1 spot again in 1988 after being featured in a Miller Lite advert and most recently Dave Berry’s Little Things being featured in the current Andrex advert December 2011. Never has the music of one singular decade kept on reverberating throughout the years as the infamous 60s.

We ask the founder and creator of The Solid Silver 60's Show, Derek Nicol, Joint Managing Director of Flying Music, to give us some insight as to how he came up with the idea of one of Flying Music’s flagship tours. He told us that:- "It was back in ’85 when Paul Walden (Joint Managing Director of Flying Music) and I were getting into promoting shows and because most of the touring artists of the time were signed up to other established promoters we had to think of a different market/niche. I remembered what I had been doing in my earlier years as a promoter in Scotland in the 60’s touring these amazing artists and the phenomenal response they were receiving from the audience I thought that perhaps there was still a demand for these talented artists like Gerry, The Searchers, Peter Sarstedt etc. Their original fans had obviously also grown up and got older so we were hoping a multiple bill concert would appeal. Back then I obviously had no idea it would still be touring 26 years on.   The name The Solid Silver 60s Show came from, as...."

"...with all great things, basic elements cleverly married together. 1985 was 25 years on from the 60s and a 25 year anniversary denotes Silver, Solid is the strength of the music and obviously that legendary 60s era of music. When asked if the artists had to be convinced to come on board with the tour Derek remembers, ‘At that time most 60’s artists had peaked a long time before and were playing mostly cabaret/ corporate events. So my idea was to take these artists back to the concert platform where they could perform in great venues again on a stage that was comfortable for them and also a more comfortable environment for the audience who had grown up with this music but did not appreciate the smoke filled cabaret clubs. The artists welcomed it and here we/they are 26 years later. Now way beyond Silver but the brand sticks.

Back in 85, when the first tour went out, it opened at the London Palladium. With most bands nowadays rehearsing their way to London this was a massive seal of approval and testament to the quality of the artists themselves. The tour was only 25 dates long and sold out immediately. Due to demand Flying Music added a second leg six months later which also sold out. Derek says, ‘Ever since that first tour, every spring we promote tours that are 50 to 60 dates long plus, including a number of double performances to ensure audiences don’t miss out (in true Solid Silver 60s style spring 2011 has 57 dates, 68 performances). It has always been my policy to take the show to the market place therefore we tour all the major cities as well as the towns we feel have a big enough audience – otherwise we get into trouble from our customers! The audience are not young kids who want to pile into a minibus and travel a hundred or so miles to a large arena.’ The audiences obviously love the lengthy tours but asked whether the artists appreciate it Derek confesses ‘They may moan a little about the length of time they spend in the car driving from venue to venue but at the end of the day they appreciate being out there in front of a live audience which in most cases is the driving force. As each tour finishes you can generally hear the artists commenting ''what are we all going to be doing now''.

The Spring 2011 tour sees Dave Berry, Chris Farlowe, Wayne Fontana, Terry Sylvester formerly of The Hollies, Vanity Fare and The Merseybeats. When asked how he puts the bills together each year and whether there is a special ingredient, Derek confirms ‘There is a recipe; it’s not just picking a few artists together out of a hat. Each artist must complement the others and be compatible. Ideally it is HIT driven, the more Number 1’s, the stronger the bill. It was the hits that made them famous and the majority of these artists have survived on these early hits as most of the 60’s material is still so memorable today. After the record sales and contracts had expired these artists made a living from live performance hence the reason that most of them are really good performers today, they are well practiced - unlike a lot of artists from 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and Noughties.’ The Solid Silver 60s Show’s longevity has been ensured due to this careful choice and quality of artist and of course delivering a happy experience for the audience. When asked how long he intends to tour this iconic brand the answer is ‘Who knows....I have often been asked this and I always reply that as long as the punters keep coming and we can promise a great show, we’ll keep delivering."

So if you want to see this amazing show on Merseyside, you have not one, but two chances! The first is on Wednesday, 2 March 2011, at the Southport Theatre from 7.30pm. to book your place to see the show call:- 0844 847 2380 now. Also the other chance will be at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool. That show will take place on Wednesday, 27 April 2011 also from 7.30pm. To book tickets for that performance call:- 0151 709 3789.

The Merseyside show will have:- DAVE BERRY, CHRIS FARLOWE and WAYNE FONTANA... They will be joined by with special guest:- TERRY SYLVESTER (formerly of The Hollies).

Not only that but they will all backed by:- VANITY FARE and the very special guests:- THE MERSEYBEATS!!!