SOULFISH will be swimming upstream to the Alban Arena next Friday, February 12.

It follows the success of the soul band at the civic disco in December.

Soulfish are a 10-piece band who for the past 15 years have bossed the North London soul scene. They’ve opened Proms in the Park and The Queen’s Silver Jubilee party, been the house band on Channel 5’s Night Fever backing Suggs and Kim Mazell and twice played the Everyman Testicular Cancer balls.

The line-up includes members of The Selecter, Supertramp, The Cuban Brothers, Secret Affair and Chicken Shack, as well as cast members of the West End’s shows Dancin’ In The Streets, Mamma Mia and Sweeney Todd.

Soulfish provide two one-hour sets including hits from James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to name but a few.

The evening begins at 8pm and Soulfish are supported by 2Tone.

Tickets are £15, available from the Arena box office on 01727 844488 or go to www.alban-arena.co.uk.

n Comic film Quartet screens at the Arena at 7.30pm next Tuesday, April 9, and at 1.30pm & 7.30pm on Wednesday, April 10.

Beecham House is abuzz with the rumour that the home for retired musicians is soon to play host to a new resident who is a star.

For Reginald Paget (Tom Courtenay), Wilfred Bond (Billy Connolly) and Cecily Robson (Pauline Collins) that sort of talk is par for the course at the gossipy home.

Based on Ronald Harwood’s stage play of the same name, Quartet is a film about redefining old age and growing old with hope; demonstrating how art illuminates life and the human spirit remains undimmed even as the brightest stars start to fade.

Quartet is actor Dustin Hoffman’s directorial debut. Tickets for the matinee are £5 and for evenings they are £7 or £5 concessions.