JUST a few weeks after selling out at the Kenton with his Buddy Holly retrospective, Henley musician Mike Hurst is back with another show.

This time, the founder member of Sixties band The Springfields which brought fame and fortune to the late great Dusty is putting on a show with the 21st century band of the same name.

Hurst is joined in the new trio by singer Marina Berry and guitarist Andy Marlow.

The Springfields have performed about 20 gigs since they got together 18 months ago.

Their most memorable performance was a slot in a star-studded charity concert at the Albert Hall in October 2011 when they sang alongside acts such as Pet Shop Boys, Smokey Robinson and Rick Astley to raise money for Mcmillan Cancer Support.


Their next gig at the Kenton, on Friday, March 22 will include numbers from their back catalogue of more than 80 songs.

“This is the second time we have played at the Kenton, and we are really looking forward to it,” said Mike.

“It’s great. We have two acoustic guitars, one bass and three harmony voices, so it’s a nice change from a lot of other stuff that goes on today.

“We got together about a year and a half ago, after a friend heard Marina singing and recommended her to me.

“I rang her up and asked her to come along for an audition.

“Everyone loves Marina. She sings really well and she looks great, too. And we all get on really well together.

“That’s important you have to gel if you’re going to play in a band together.”

Mike Hurst’s final concert with Dusty and Tom Springfield was a Sunday Night At The Palladium in October 1963, with an estimated audience of 20 million people.

Dusty then launched her own very successful solo career while Mike went on to become a record producer, making hits with stars such as Cat Stevens and The Move.

Andy Marlow had a classical music education, studying at the Royal Academy of Music and then playing with the English Guitar Quartet, although he has always played rock and blues as well.

Marina has worked as a professional musician for five years, as a session singer and backing vocalist, as well as writing and recording radio jingles for shows such as Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs.

The trio will sing some original Springfields numbers, such as Island Of Dreams, which got to number two in the British charts in the Sixties, as well as covers from bands such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

l The Springfields appear at the Kenton Theatre on Friday, March 22.

Call the box office (01491) 575698 or visit www.kentontheatre.co.uk

PUBLISHED 11/03/13