Oh Boy, the Grand's a Buddy to all musically

It all adds up to an experience rather than just a night out and all the more reason why locals should be making the trip into town to support their local theatres.

First up is Buddy Holly and the Cricketers - staged as though the Oh Boy himself was in Blackpool tomorrow night.

The show presents all the classic Buddy Holly hits and many more and has audiences rocking in the aisles from Bangkok to - now - Blackpool. It’s even wowed them in Buddy’s native Texas.

Poignantly, the performance is inspired by Buddy’s only tour of Britain, the year before he died, when, in this region, he visited Wigan and Liverpool.

More legends move into the local theatre on Sunday but this time it’s the real thing for the Solid Silver 60s Show which has been celebrating history’s successful decade of music for the past 30 years now.

Solid Silver 60s is the Grand daddy of them all, bringing classic hits from the original song makers, with heart throbs of old Peter Noone and Dave Berry joined by a special guest from America, Brian Hyland, as well as established SS60s favourites New Amen Corner and The Merseybeats.

But Monday brings one of the most eagerly awaited theatre-concert-events with the Simon and Garfunkel Story back in Blackpool (having raised the roof back in 2014) straight from London’s West End, a sell-out tour and standing ovations at every performance.

Musically, it’s a fabulous night out but the magic is in the mix, the presentation using original film footage charting the genesis of the now iconic duo and giant projections to tell the tale, as well as a full band performing Mrs Robinson, Homeward Bound and many more. It’s a format increasingly coming to the fore and mesmerises newcomers to the music and diehard fans of the originals alike. The strength rests in the warts-and-all look at their origins, struggles, success, split and solo careers - and even throws in a stunning rrecreation of the 1981 Central Park reunion concert. The honours go to Gregory Clarke and Joe Sterling. For more check out www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk.