By Duncan Eaton

FOR the first time ever BBC 2’s iconic Sounds of The 60s show is leaving the studio and hitting the road.

And Eastleigh’s Concorde Club will on February 23 be the second stop in a nationwide 17 date tour.

The brand new live show will be hosted by former Radio Caroline pirate jockey Tony Blackburn who took over the popular radio sixties showcase from the late Brian Matthew who was the show’s presenter for 27 years.

And the sixties roadshow will feature songs, stories and memories from the 60s performed live by the Sounds Of The 60s All-Star Band & Singers.

Tony says: “I can’t wait to get out on the road with some great musicians and visit some of my favourite towns and cities, spreading the great Sounds of 60s across the UK.”

He is no stranger to the Solent area, growing up along the south coast in Bournemouth.

Tony started his radio career in 1964 and has happy memories of playing so many of the great hits the first time around.

Radio has always been Tony’s first love and he says that the microphone has been his biggest friend in the world.

It was in Southampton that he took his first big steps into the world of television.

The former Radio Caroline pirate jock had just jumped ship from Radio One when he was commissioned by Southern Television – the forerunner of Meridian - to front Time For Blackburn.

It was ground breaking show which went out every week from Southern’s studios in a converted cinema in Northam, Southampton.

Screened on Saturday nights through the spring and summer of 1968 it was hailed as a new style pop show discussing the merits of the latest pop singles or 45s as they were called in those days.

Tony, who was crowned King of the Jungle in the TV celebrity programme, is among a galaxy of names from screen, stage and sports field lined up by the Stoneham Lane club for next year.

West End musical superstar Lee Mead will be bringing his story to Eastleigh on May 11.

Selected from thousands of performers Lee was thrust into the spotlight in 2007 to play the role of Joseph in the West End in an incredible run that had to be extended to satisfy public demand to see Lee wear the coat of many colours.

From there his career has been a never ending rollercoaster of differing engagements from stage to screen. Other West End musicals have included Wicked, Legally Blonde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and millions of TV viewers have seen him in Casualty and Holby City.

Former member of boy band Westlife Brian McFadden will be taking centre stage on April 13.

With Westlife the singer songwriter had 12 number one hit singles, including Flying Without Wings and World of Our Own.

Brian left the group in 2004 to pursue his solo career and hit the number one spot with his debut album Irish Son.

In 2016, Brian formed a group with former Boyzone band mate Keith Duffy. Known as Boyzlife they toured around the world, performing some of their greatest hits and appeared at The Concorde.

England’s World cup hat trick hero Geoff Hurst will be telling the inside story of that famous 1966 World Cup victory.

Geoff enjoyed his 2018 mini tour it so much that he is going back on the road in March 2019 and will be checking into The Concorde on March 29.

He will be talking about his West Ham and England career and his life in general. He is the only man in to have scored a hat trick in a World Cup Final.

Compere is his friend and agent Terry Baker and in the second half the audience will get a chance to put the famous striker on the spot with a question and answer session.

Hurst is the latest in a line of soccer legends who have appeared at The Concorde and include Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne, Jimmy Greaves and Southampton’s own soccer hero Matt Le Tissier.

For more information ring The Concorde on 02380613989 or visit www.the concordeclub.com