Local showbiz promoters Colin Brown and Kevin Rose can claim a real success with their first excursion into the big time, Denise Barkley.

On Saturday, they hired the county's largest venue, Oxford's Apollo Theatre, and staged a 1970s tribute show.

What the audience lacked in numbers the theatre was half full they more than made up for in enthusiasm.

Colin and Kevin, both from Carterton, recreated the atmosphere and professionalism of the highly successful Party 2000, Carterton's joint centenary and Millennium celebration last summer.

They had hired two of Party 2000's most popular acts for the Apollo show - glam-rock band Platform 4 and, topping the bill, Village People tribute band The New Recruits.

The audience, including several coachloads from Carterton, really entered into the spirit of the occasion by dressing up in 1970s gear.

Right from the start of the show,

the atmosphere crackled and the emphasis was very much on fun and informality.

The New Recruits, a brilliant band from Wales, stirred up the crowd with a string of classic 1970s hits and the Village People's chart-topping songs In The Navy and YMCA.

The show topped off a busy year for Colin and Kevin, a couple of former window cleaners who originally formed a raunchy Full Monty-style song and dance act and then got into the promotions business.

As well as their firm, Brown Rose Promotions, they have recently become stewards at Carterton Town Football Club.