Dave Berry

FANS of 60s music can see Dave Berry, Chris Farlowe, Wayne Fontana and Terry Sylvester, formerly of The Hollies, all in concert together in St Albans on Sunday.

IN today’s disposable digital age, songs have no longevity.

Singles chart one week and disappear from public consciousness the next.

However, hits from the 60s – even relatively minor ones – remain as popular today as they did when they were first released more than four decades ago.

The Solid Silver 60s show capitalises on the enduring appeal of the era’s music.

Now in its 26th year, fans can enjoy the likes of Dave Berry, Chris Farlowe, Wayne Fontana and Terry Sylvester, formerly of The Hollies, all backed by Vanity Fare and special guests The Merseybeats in one neat package in St Albans this weekend.

There will be two performances at the Alban Arena on Sunday, at 3.30pm and again at 7.30pm.

The names might not be too familiar with today’s younger generation but the songs certainly will be.

Take Chris Farlowe. His 1966 chart-topper Out of Time was written by none other than Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, of The Rolling Stones fame.

However, it’s Farlowe’s 1967 timeless classic Handbags and Gladrags which will be instantly recognisable by today’s audience, either through watching Ricky Gervais in The Office or the Stereophonics’ cover version.

Farlowe said: “I love all the songs I sing and constantly add new ones.

“I never tire of even the big hits which I’m famous for.”

It’s a similar story with Dave Berry. Boy George covered his track The Crying Game and both the original and remake by the former Culture Club singer appeared in Neil Jordan’s Oscar-winning movie of the same name.

Berry’s Little Things also featured in a recent TV advert for Andrex toilet paper of all things.

On keeping the songs fresh after all these years, Berry said: “Because every night is different, the songs are never the same.

“I love the song Ray Davies [of The Kinks] wrote for me This Strange Effect and My Baby Left Me. I don’t do any songs in my set that I don’t like.”

Show creator Derek Nicol knows exactly why the 60s acts still pull in the crowds.

“It was the hits that made them famous and the majority of these artists have survived on these early hits as most of the 60s 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 practised – unlike a lot of artists from 70s, 80s, 90s and Noughties.”

The hits of The Hollies, such as He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, Sorry Suzanne and The Air That I Breathe, need little introduction.

And Terry Sylvester’s answer to why music nowadays is less memorable than that of the 60s is: “Simple phrase, all the gear, no idea, too much technology these days from the off.

“The songs are just not good enough to ever be remembered.

“The odd one will, but most of the stuff you hear nowadays is very forgettable.”

However, ask Berry or Wayne Fontana, who had an American number one in the 60s with Game of Love, which current band they would like to be in and the answer is the same.

“The Killers,” they both reply.

* Tickets for the evening show cost £24 and £22 and for the matinee £22 and £20.