ACCORDING to the old saying, if you remember the 60s, you were probably never there.

So baby boomers who are still a tad ‘hazy’ in their recollection of the era will soon be able to enjoy a quick reminder – thanks to three of the finest bands to come out of Oxfordshire during the swinging decade.

The Falling Leaves, whose members shared bills with The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Kinks and Gene Pitney, will be joined by Wallingford’s The Gangbusters, who have been together since they were 14 and were signed to the Phillips Fontana record label, for a special 60s evening in October.

They will be joined by blues rock trio Steamroller, all of whom played with local bands in the 60s and Gene Vincent, Dusty Springfield, and Hermans Hermits among countless others.

And to really boost the memories of any of Oxfordshire’s music lovers, the night will be held at one of Oxford’s most popular venues of the era, the Emperor Ballroom of the Rover Sports and Social Club.

The dance, on October 29, is being organised by Mark Watson who produces and presents radio show Bringing Back The Good Times on Radio Cherwell and BBC Radio Oxford.

The programme tells the story of the county’s pop music history by talking to the people who were there and the gig will raise money for Radio Cherwell’s Children’s Show and The BBC Children in Need Appeal.

Steamroller’s Roger Warner, 66, of Cutteslowe, who started playing again in 2009 after a 30-year break, said he remembers Oxford’s music scene well.

The grandfather of one said: “There was so much going on, so many clubs.

“Part of the old Oxford Mail offices in New Inn Hall Street even used to be a club.

“They all came here to start out. Long John Baldry, Elton John, when he was Reg Dwight – Rod Stewart even had a flat in Wolvercote.

“They were good days.”

Any of Oxford’s original ‘scenesters’ may remember seeing the bands play at gigs laid on by Oxford’s well-known 60s promoter Adrian Hopkins in venues across Oxford, including the now Cellar bar, in Cornmarket Street, still known to many as the old Corn Dolly.

Members of the bands, who are all now mostly in their 60s, squeezed in a jam session this week at the Jack Russell pub in Marston.

Falling Leaves singer Rod Crisp said the gig would be particularly poignant for the band after losing friend and original band member Will Jarvis, of Marston Street, Oxford, to cancer earlier this year.

Mr Crisp, who now lives in Gloucestershire, said: “It’ll be great to get back together and play with the lads.

“Will knew about this gig and was really up for it.

“But cancer took him from us and we’d like to dedicate our performance to his memory.”

Mr Warner said he still had to pinch himself that the bandsere all back together.

He said: “It’s fantastic.

“We played a gig at a pub the other day which was packed full of people, and I was worried were going to clear it because we’re quite loud, until the landlord said they were all there for us.

“We’ve still got the groupies, their knickers are just a bit bigger these days that’s all!”