2026 Blackpool Tower Rock & Roll Weekender

Marty Wilde & The Wildcats

Success came in July 1958 when Marty Wilde scored a number 4 hit in the UK with ‘Endless sleep’. From mid 1958 to the end of 1959, Wilde was one of the leading British rock and roll singers, along with Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard. Wilde’s backing group were called the Wildcats. At various times they featured Big Jim Sullivan on lead guitar, Bobbie Clarke on drums, Brian Locking on bass guitar and Brian Bennett on drums. Locking and Bennett later joined the Shadows.
Marty appeared frequently on BBC Television’s music programme, 6.5 Special. Soon after, Parnes persuaded the influential producer Jack Good to make Wilde the resident star of his new television programme ‘Oh Boy!’. After considerable success with songs like ‘Donna’, ‘Teenager in love’, ‘Sea of love’ and his own composition ‘Bad boy’ - Marty still performs today and we are delighted to announce that he is coming to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom in 2026 to headline the event.

The Linda Gail Lewis Band

EXCLUSIVE UK FESTIVAL/WEEKENDER APPEARANCE

The Linda Gail Lewis Band - are travelling all the way from Austin, Texas in the USA.

Linda Gail Lewis is a major Singer, Songwriter & Pianist in the USA and will have the audience mesmerised when she sings & plays the Piano. Linda has even recorded music with her Late Great brother and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jerry Lee Lewis. We are so thankful to Linda and the band for agreeing to join us at Blackpool Tower in 2026 for what will be a stellar performance.
Immersed in the sounds of pumping piano and country from a young age, she developed an unwavering passion for music. Starting her career as a professional musician at the age of fifteen, Linda Gail has maintained her fervor for performing live, captivating audiences globally with her high-energy shows.

The Band also has a special guitarist - Danny B Harvey who has played with many great names Lemmie from Motorhead and Nancy Sinatra. 
Finally on backing vocals is Anne Marie Lewis - Linda's daughter.

This is one band you really do not want to miss on this one off 2026 UK FESTIVAL / WEEKENDER appearance - so be sure to book for the Tower Ballroom Rock & Roll Weekender 2026!

The Firebirds

A True 4 piece Rock & Roll band recognised as one of the finest Rock & Roll Bands in Europe. The Firebirds; Jim Plummer, Dan Plummer, Rich Lorriman and Paul Willmott are four first class musicians/vocalists able to cover the complete spectrum of music from the 1950s and 1960s, including rockabilly, doo wop, instrumentals and ballads.

Over the years, the band have a built a reputation in the country as the go to act when it comes to 50’s rock ‘n’ roll. This has led to the band being invited to perform alongside Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Lonnie Donegan as well as the Holliday Sisters (Elvis’ original backing singers) to name but a few.

To date, the band have released three singles and twelve albums. The last five, recorded in their own studio and on their own label ‘Rockville Records’, include a Rock’n’Roll Special with Linda Gail Lewis the sister of ‘The Killer’ Jerry Lee, and two Doo Wop albums – the second featuring guest vocalist Den Hegarty of ‘Darts’ fame.

With the global commercial success of their back catalogue on music streaming services such as Spotify and iTunes, the band have embarked sell-out theatre tours across the USA as well as performing at music festivals across the country.

Their self-penned single ‘59 Ford has reached over 5 millions hits on Spotify and is recognised as a staple in any rockabilly collection.

The Revolutionaires

Established within the ‘hotbed’ of the North East music scene in the UK, they power out jumpin’ hot rhythm & blues in their own indomitable hard hitting style.

Primarily, they are influenced by 1940’s and 1950’s R&B. In particular, Louis Jordan, Big Joe Turner, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Roy Brown. However, they have adopted a harder and more aggressive approach, synonymous with modern blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Duke Robillard, Jools Holland and Mike Henderson which helps create their own high energy sound.

Over the last decade The Revolutionaires have established themselves on the UK and European Rockin’ circuit, as well as the Blues scene.

They have toured extensively both home and abroad, performing at festivals in Ireland, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Malta and Dubai.

Highlights include performing at festivals with artistes such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Sting, Tom Jones, Hugh Laurie, Jimmie Vaughan, Robert Cray, Walter Trout, Eric Bibb, Albert Lee, Snake Davis and Dave Edmunds.

Now also touring with their Big Band project which consists of extra horns and pianist, The Revs are hitting the Festival circuit with this power house line up and big sound.

The band has recorded five CDs to date, containing a collection of Hot Rockin' R&B tracks. Each CD captures the 'rawness' and sheer energy of the band, who like to give their performances a 'hard-edged' vibe!

The Spunyboys

Wow wow wow

The Spunyboys from France are a high energy band bringing you a great sound, great vocals and an all round throughly entertaining show.

The band are making there debut with Venture Away Music Weekends in 2026 - but we cannot wait to bring them to you at The Tower Ballroom.

Formed in 2006 in northern France by the brothers Remi (Double bassist, singer) & Guillaume (drummer), the trio gets his definitive line up in 2011 when Eddie (guitar) join em. The Spunyboys use the same ol' ingredients, such as Hillbilly music & 50's RNB/Rock N Roll, to make that explosive cocktail called Rockabilly. The Spuny boat ain't sailing only the Mississipi (New Orleans, Memphis, +Chicago) to get influenced, since he reach the River Thames, surrounded by british rockers too. That is why you can find some Cliff Richard / Crazy Cavan / Flying Saucers covers... in their set right after some Carl Perkins / Ronnie Dawson / Little Richard or Johnny Horton gems between Spuny songs.

Glenn Darren & The Krew Katz

Venture Away & Glenn Darren is a great combination, we love them and we know you the audience love them too! Hey - Let's Rock & Roll! We are delighted to welcome back this fabulous band with their charismatic leader Glenn Darren, the Krew Katz are certain to get you on your feet dancing the night away. This quality Rock & Roll band from Nottingham is known and loved by many.

Who else would open the weekend? The brilliant Lord Glenn Darren will take to the stage with the Krew Katz and perform a great selection of songs including Johnny Be Good, Move it & Roll on (Clickety Clack). Glenn will be with us for the whole weekend as well as your compere.

Joining Glenn on stage will of course be Flat Cap Dave, Andy or drums and Glenn’s daughter Laura.

Johnny & The Jailbirds

We are delighted to welcome this fabulous band back to Blackpool in 2026 for there second appearance on a Venture Away Music Weekends Rock & Roll Weekender.
Johnny & The Jailbirds were formed in 1973 by Johnny Red after moving to Northamptonshire from London. Johnny has been around the Rock & Roll Clubs in London since 1969 and had been inspired by many of the Teddy Boys Bands playing on the circuit.
Charly records gave them a recording contract and bought them back down to London to record the "Out on Bail" Album which sold thousands of copies in the UK and Europe, especially Finland where they still tour to this day.
The band have a name for writing and performing there own songs, and the set only includes there own material like "Roll on Clickety Clack" which is one of many that have become a firm favourite on the Rock n Roll Circuit.
Johny and The Jailbirds are looking forward to playing for Venture Away Music Weekends and what you will hear is a unique set of Rock n Roll songs including some from the New 2022 Album "Rollin Dice".

No wonder this band is known as one of the hottest rock & roll bands around.

Shane & The Korrado's

WOW WOW WOW , following a simply senasational performance at our Skegness Rock & Roll Weekender in 2024, this band just had to return with us in 2026. We are delighted that this excellent four piece band from Suffolk are joining Venture Away Music Weekends for the second time in Blackpool with the brilliant Karl on bass, Jason on lead guitar,, Shane on lead vocals and rhythm guitar and BIG D snapping the snare on the drums! This band play rock n roll and rockabilly covers with plenty of ideas from Elvis! Another band that is sure to keep all the dancers very happy indeed.

Darrel Higham & The Enforcers

Born in Bedford, England in 1970, Higham grew up listening to the music of Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran. Through the influence of these artists, Higham took up the guitar in his early teens and joined his first band whilst still at school.

In 1992 he spent 6 months living in the USA; touring and recording with Eddie Cochran’s original backing band, The Kelly Four. His first solo album was released in 1995 on Nervous Records, entitled Mobile Corrosion. 

Higham played lead guitar in the West End production of Elvis: The Musical in 1996. He co-wrote the first biography on his musical hero, Eddie Cochran for Mainstream Publishing in 2000. 

In 2007, Higham started work with Stray Cats drummer, Slim Jim Phantom. Together they recorded 2 albums and toured Europe, even making an appearance on BBC’s Later With Jools in 2012.

He has played guitar for Robert Plant, Jools Holland, Imelda May, Sharon Shannon, Shakin’ Stevens, Jeff Beck, Billy Lee Riley, Rocky Burnette, Bono, Paul McCartney, to name but a few.

The Zodiacs

A True 4 piece Rock & Roll band from Oxfordshire - we are delighted to welcome this band back to Blackpool in 2026 following rave reviews at our Blackpool & Paignton events in recent times.

We simply love The Zodiacs and we are sure there will be a few fans in the audience with the Zodiacs T-Shirts as well, have you got yours yet?

Doug Loveridge - Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Lee Collins - Drums
Paul Holmes - Double (Slap) Bass
Dan Loveridge - Lead Guitar & Vocals

Bo Walton Red Alert

We are delighted to welcome back this fabulous band to Blackpool in 2026 - always in demand and a great band to have on the Blackpool Tower Venture Away Music Weekends Rock & Roll Weekender.

This band is sure to pack out the dance floor and are certainly a crowd pleaser too so we are delighted they are returning to Blackpool in 2026.

From the tender age of 5 Bo Walton was listening to the sounds of Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran and Billy Fury and they all influenced him greatly. Having written songs with Mark Knopfler, Nik Kershaw and Chris Difford, he has recorded several albums with his band Red Alert and together they are regulars on the rock n roll club circuit.

No wonder this band is known as one of the hottest rock & roll bands around on the circuit.

Rockin' The Joint

Rockin' the Joint are a 3 piece comprising members who have come together from other long standing premier rock and roll and jive bands. This Dorset band is making the long journey back to Blackpool in 2025 and we are delighted that they are coming to play for us at The Savoy Hotel in Blackpool in 2025.

Between them they bring a wealth of talent and experience playing in the UK and overseas. Band leader, founder member and lead vocalist Mike possesses a fine voice and ability on the guitar.  Drummer Jason also takes on some lead vocals, being an avid Elvis fan, and provides harmony vocals on many numbers. Newest member Gary on slap bass and harmony vocals, is also a great guitarist and songwriter. 

The group plays material from the 50's and 60's covering all the great artists from Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran to Elvis, plus some self penned tunes composed in the 50's style. The repertoire includes jive, strollers, ballads and doowop, plus a sprinkling of rockabilly. The set is designed to fill a dance floor!