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In more recent times Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Motorhead and Whitesnake have all packed the place out.

It was during what's now become known as the classic rock era that Lavenham-based promoter John Hessenthaler first started putting on shows around the region and he's still rocking more than thirty years later.

I've had the pleasure of compereing many of John's rock shows in Ipswich but one I couldn't get to because I was MC'ing elsewhere was Roger Hodgson's open air concert at Orwell Park School.

I'm told that despite the wet weather it was a great performance which deserved a bigger turn-out.

Logical Tramp

Logicaltramp

I dare say the rain put many people off but the stay-away Supertramp fans do get a second chance to enjoy the band's music on Sunday 19 October when Logicaltramp are on stage.

As the name suggests they are a tribute band but as we're not likely to see the original Supertramp get back together again this could be as close as we're going to get.

The original Supertramp graced the Gaumont stage promoting their Crisis What Crisis? album and also packing the place out at around that time were Focus and Wishbone Ash, both of whom are back in town on Monday 27 October.

The Ipswich Regent Theatre

They also shared the bill last year at The Regent and both bands impressed me a great deal.

This Van Leer is still at the helm of the Dutch masters while Martin Turner fronts his version of Wishbone Ash with all the skill and passion that helped make the group an essential listen in their heyday.

There's no Jan Akkerman in Focus these days but that matters not one jot. Since July 2006 Niels van der Steenhoven has handled guitar duties and on the evidence of his performance in Ipswich last year he is every bit as good as Mr. Akkerman.

Completing this rock triple bill will be The Groundhogs featuring Tony T.S. McPhee. I don't recall The Groundhogs treading the Gaumont boards but I do remember Tony T.S. McPhee guesting with Rory Gallagher on a couple of occasions there. In those days Tony lived in Haverhill where he had his own studio.

Bad Company

I'm down to MC the Focus gig again and I'll also be introducing three more top bands on Monday 1 December when John Hessenthaler presents Bad Company, Ten Years After and The Alarm at The Regent.

Bad Company played The Gaumont on the Straight Shooter tour. Original guitarist Mick Ralphs is in the 2008 line-up and he shares guitar duties with Dave "Bucket" Colwell who joined the group in 1991.

Robert Hart is back fronting the band again and with drummer Harry James and bassist Jaz Lochrie in the engine room a great gig is on the cards.

Harry's best known for his work with Thunder who'll be out on tour themselves in November. Thunder have included a date at the Cambridge Corn Exchange, 29 November.

Mick Ralphs

The aforementioned Mick Ralphs was a founder member of Mott The Hoople and can be heard on a 4 CD box set that's just come out on the Stowmarket based label Angel Air.

It's a collection of live recordings compiled by Mott's drummer Dale Griffin aka Buffin. The set also includes a 48 page book written by band aficionado Keith Smith. Get in quick because it's a limited edition release with only 2,000 sets being produced.

Golden Earring

Next year another legendary rock act from Holland are making their Ipswich debut. Golden Earring, best known for the rock masterpiece Radar Love, are at The Regent on Friday 13 March.

According to John Hesssenthaler it'll be their first UK date for 30 years and is one of only two British shows they're doing.

Tickets for all the above gigs are now available from the box office (01473 433100). There's plenty more coming up at The Regent over the next few months including Paul Carrack, The Feeling, Jools Holland, the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band, Motorhead, Slade and Status Quo.

Meanwhile I'd like to wish the theatre's new manager David Mansfield all the best in his latest role.

For the past few years David has worked alongside Hazel Clover and was the natural choice as her successor. Hazel had run the Regent for six and a half years and is now living in the Leicester area with her new husband Jeremy. Congratulations to them both and good luck to Hazel as she begins an exciting new chapter in her life. She'll be much missed but the venue remains in safe hands.