Sixties sound returns to the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight this weekend (From Wirral Globe)

Sixties sound returns to the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight this weekend

2:10pm Tuesday 16th June 2009

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SIXTIES band The Swinging Blue Jeans make a return to Wirral for a show at the Gladstone Theatre in Port Sunlight this weekend.

Original members Ray Ennis, Phil Thompson and Alan Lovell will take to the stage with fellow 60s favourite Craig Douglas at the Greendale Road venue on Saturday, June 20 (7.30pm start).

Formed as a semi-pro band in 1959, the band was offered resident seasons at the Star Club in Hamburg alongside other up-and-coming Liverpool groups as The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers.

In 1963 they had their chart debut with 'Hippy Hippy Shake', which saw them appearing on the very first show of the long-running BBC Television series Top Of The Pops.

Their other hits included You're No Good, Good Golly Miss Molly, Don't Make Me Over, Promise You'll Tell Her and It's Too Late.

Ray Ennis, who as well as singing also plays lead and rhythm guitar, told the Globe: "We've toured all over the place and played the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton, but this is our first time at the Gladstone.

"I'm looking forward to it, and if you haven't seen us play live before come along because it's going to be a night of good time music."

Ray, who recently turned 69, continued: "We just started off as a skiffle group playing the Cavern in Liverpool, went on to get a recording contract and the rest is history. We've also worked with Phil Collins, Paul Young and Texas.

"We're still going 45 years after we had our first hit and have still never had proper jobs. We’ve been very lucky and are only one of a few 60s bands that are going out. We do a lot of festivals in Europe.

"The good thing about music from that era is that more modern bands, like Oasis, have picked up on its style and helped bring it to a whole new audience."

Also appearing in Saturday's show is Craig Douglas, who was voted 'Best New Singer' in 1959.

He went on to record eight cover versions of former American hit songs, in his total of nine Top 40 UK singles.

He had a Number One single in 1959 with "Only Sixteen" and, of course, the unforgettable Teenager in Love.

Winners of a Globe competition to each win a pair of tickets to see The Swinging Blue Jeans and Craig Douglas at the Gladstone Theatre were Mrs C Mercer from Eastham and Wendy Roberts from West Kirby.

After entering a separate competition, Mrs C Chadwick from Woodchurch and Beryl Matthews from Thornton Hough have each won a pair of tickets to see 50 years of Cliff, featuring Jimmy Jermain, at the Gladstone Theatre on June 27.

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