If you haven’t yet got to see the Reelinandarocking show then you are in for a treat. The show starts off on a high note and maintains the pace throughout. With some great music and some good performances.

The show starts with Gerry Marsden starting the opening lines of Reelin’ and a Rockin’ he is joined on stage by each of the other acts in turn to sing their part of the song. First Mike Pender, then Brian Poole, Dave Berry and finally Mike D’Abo.

The show is split into a number of well thought out sections, both in terms of the content and in the way that the performers were able to get their breath back between some fast, energetic, rocking songs. Throughout the whole of the show the excellent backing band were on stage who according the show programme come with some first class credentials which they confirmed in their playing throughout the evening. Also on stage throughout were the backing vocalists of the Nolans. I had wondered why they were on the tour but was pleasantly surprised by them. Not being one for leather, I enjoyed the more revealing costumes that they wore in the second half.

Following the introduction, each of the performers gave a great rendition of a rock classic. Mike Pender first with ‘Johnny B Goode’ then Dave Berry with ‘Hi Heel Sneakers’ Mike D’Abo gave us ‘Rip it Up’ and Brian Poole sang ‘Chantilly Lace’ The classics section was finished off by Gerry singing ‘Great Balls of Fire’

The next round of songs were dedicated to one of my favourite singers Buddy Holly with Gerry starting off singing ‘Raining in my Heart’, Brian Poole sang ‘Rave on’ Mike Pender sang ‘True Love Ways’ which obviously affected Mags more than me (that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it) Dave Berry did ‘Heartbeat’ Mike D’Abo sang ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ and the last tribute song to Buddy was ‘Oh Boy’ sung by Gerry.

The final section in the first half was ‘Songs they wished they had recorded ’ and this included what, in my opinion, was the best vocal performance of the night by Gerry singing ‘It’s Only Make Believe’

The second half opened with the Nolans tribute to Dusty. It wasn’t Dusty, but, almost reluctantly, I enjoyed it.

Each of the acts performed some of their own hits with the evening finishing on the same high note on which it started, with all the acts on stage for ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’

The audience in Swansea were very appreciative, some of them even danced in the aisles throughout the show others stood and clapped to the music. Brian Poole was not as bad as I had been led to believe; I knew that MP was wearing that jacket without having seen it previously!

If you enjoy R ‘n’ R then you should not miss this show. You will love it.