THE sound of legendary rock band Free is coming to the region.

Tribute band Freeway will perform songs from the band's career at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley, County Durham, on Saturday, February 26, at 8pm.

Free are considered one of the country's most influential rock bands and are probably best known for All Right Now, written backstage at a gig at Dunelm House, Durham, in 1969.

Freeway, who have undergone several name changes, were formed in 1999 by guitarist John Buckton, from near Tow Law, County Durham, and drummer Rob Dunn, from Blyth, Northumberland. The line-up also features bassist Rick Hunt, from Sunderland, and lead vocalist Bob Davidson, from Northumberland.

The band, who have played at several Free conventions, have been featured in the magazine Guitarist, and Free's drummer, Simon Kirke, has praised them for doing "a great job in honouring our music''.

Their one-and-a-half-hour set includes many Free classics and a short unplugged section.

Mike Hall, of Eric Clapton tribute act Classic Clapton, who remembers Free's Durham shows, said: "There is nobody that sounds as close to Paul Kossoff (Free's guitarist) as John Buckton. They are a great band and anybody who saw Free and likes Paul Kossoff should go and see Freeway.''

Tickets are £6, and £5 for concessions £5, available on (01207) 218899

Published: 11/02/2005