THE Sixties swing again as top tribute band the Upbeat Beatles play the Regent Centre in Christchurch on January 31.

The latest tour continues 50th anniversary of the Fab Four who released their first single, Love Me Do in October 1962.The surprise hit reached number 17 and set Liverpool’s mop-tops on their way with this landmark moment in British chart history. The Beatles played more dates in Bournemouth outside of Liverpool and London than anywhere else in the UK.

John Wilson’s tribute band recall these days when John, Paul, George and Ringo took Britain and beyond by storm with their heady mix of rock’n’roll, Tamla Motown and the blues.

Since 1997, the Upbeat Beatles been recreating the excitement, raw energy and authentic sound of the original Fab Four in concerts around the world. Their hard-earned reputation for authenticity has seen them perform to the Jordanian Royal Family, the Chinese Premier and Hollywood film actor Michael Douglas.

John Wilson started his professional career in the late 1970s singing with The Dodgers, a band made up of members of Badfinger, for whom Beatle Paul McCartney had written the hit Come And Get It.

The Dodgers recorded two singles for Island and were signed by Polydor for two albums.

Wilson was also lead vocalist and songwriter with Average White Band in the 1980s and has written songs for members of The Rolling Stones and Status Quo and several for Sir Cliff Richard. He provided vocals for the soundtracks to Evita, John And York – A Love Story and Echo Park, and in the late 1990s he recorded the album Daddy Sang The Blues.

For the Upbeat Beatles, he takes on the role of Paul McCartney, as you can witness at The Regent on January 31.