NEWPORT was rocked by Sixties' legends in the ReelinandaRockin show at Newport City Live Arena (NCLA) opening show.

The Friday night event saw the one-time lead singers of Sixties bands Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Searchers, The Tremeloes, Manfred Mann and Dave Berry and The Cruisers, supported by two members of The Nolans, take to the stage.

More than 460 people packed the ground floor and were dancing in the aisles for much of the three-and-a half-hour performance.

And they gave a standing ovation to the artists when Gerry Marsden closed the show with a moving rendition of his Liverpool classic You'll Never Walk Alone.

Many in the audience were Sixties veterans, singing along to tunes such as Do You Love Me, Rock And Roll Music, Do Wah Diddy Diddy, and I'm a Believer.

Mike d'Abo, formerly lead singer with Manfred Mann - he replaced Paul Jones in 1966 - demonstrated what a great all-round musician he is.

Mike Pender, former front man for The Searchers, brought his 12-string guitar and sounded as distinctive now as he did in the Sixties on number one hits such as Sweets For My Sweet.

Cockney rebel Brian Poole tackled some ambitious songs including Gimme Some Lovin' (Spencer Davis Group) and emerged unscathed.

The Nolan sisters, Anne and Maureen looked great in matching white suits and sang with voices as rich as chocolate.

This was one gig where you couldn't say the alcohol was doing the reviewer's talking - Newport magistrates refused NCLA's application for a liquor licence0 earlier in the day.

Watching the NCLA's launch is a bit like watching the pioneers of flight trying to haul their contraptions into the sky.

Hair-raising, but they got there in the end and so will the NCLA if future shows are as good as this one.