In 1962, The Searchers (pictured left) were merely four kids making a few extra pounds playing small gigs around their hometown of Liverpool.

One year later, they found themselves at number one in the British charts with Sweets For My Sweet.

Now the Searchers headline The Beat Goes On at Fairfield Halls on Friday, October 26, at 8pm.

The exciting and highly charged concert also includes legendary talents and energy of P J Proby, Billy J Kramer and Billie Davis.

The Beatles had started the Mersey Boom and a host of other groups from the north of England followed, to form what was to become the golden decade of British pop music.

Unlike many of these other groups, The Searchers created their own highly individual sound.

The soaring vocal harmonies and rich, jangley sound of the 12 string guitar were to be adapted by many who knew when they were onto a good thing.

Back in '62 the line up was John McNally, Chris Curtis, Tony Jackson and Mike Pender.

These four took the plunge by throwing in their jobs, packing up their bags and trudging off to Hamburg to the now famous Star Club.

The success of the Sixties sound has now entered its fifth decade and the Searchers continue to be in demand throughout the world.

December 3, 2001 13:00