Two words: British Invasion.

Immediately, bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Kinks come to mind. However, this list spans to many more bands and musicians who brought the British grooves and pop hysteria into America.

Musicians like the Animals, Peter and Gordon, the Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, the Moody Blues, Chad & Jeremy, the Searchers, the Zombies and more were also included in the British Invasion. These artists helped to shape the voice of music and forever changed popular culture.  

The Kent Stage will host the British Invasion 50th Anniversary Tour on Wednesday, March 4 at 8 p.m. The tour will include a variety of iconic British musicians who started a music revolution.

The lineup is: Peter Asher (of Peter and Gordon), Denny Laine (of The Moody Blues and Wings), Chad & Jeremy, Billy J. Kramer, Mike Pender (of the Searchers) and Terry Sylvester (of the Hollies).

A four-piece backing band will play with each artist, recreating the vintage sound of the early 1960s.

I’m telling you; this is a concert you won’t want to miss. So much history is stored within their music.

Peter Asher, is most noted for his 1964 smash hit “A World Without Love,” a song written by Paul McCartney. Asher went on to become a legendary music producer for artists like James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt.

Denny Laine, an original member of The Moody Blues, became well known with his Top 10 hit, “Go Now.” In 1971, he joined Paul McCartney’s Wings, giving himself 24 Top 40 hits. Laine and his band recently performed the entire Wings’ “Band on the Run” album in Cleveland.

Chad Stuart and Jeremy Clyde (Chad & Jeremy) are a peaceful two-part vocal harmony with hits like “A Summer Song” and “Yesterday’s Gone.” The duo is bound to take us back in time with their harmonization.

Another connection with the Beatles is Billy J. Kramer. He was produced by George Martin, was also managed by Brian Epstein, the Beatles’ manager.  Kramer the record producer for the Beatles and recorded a cover of the Beatles’ “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” 

The Searchers hit the scene at the same time as the Beatles and hailed from Liverpool, as well. They’re known for their original song “Sweets for my Sweet,” and covers like the Orlons’ “Don’t Throw Your Love Away” and the Clovers’ “Love Potion No. 9.”

The Hollies created pop hits like “Bus Stop” and “Carrie Anne” in the early to mid-1960s. Terry Sylvester joined in 1969, replacing Graham Nash, and before that, he played in the British Invasion band the Swinging Blue Jeans. With the Hollies, Terry gave us hits like “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” and “Long Cool Woman.”

This is a concert, not only celebrating the music of the British Invasion, but also the time of a music revolution.

Tickets are available at thekentstage.com or at the box office and range from $40-$70.

Contact Megan Brown at [email protected].