IT was the inspirational keyboard playing of former Animals star Alan Price that turned The House Of The Rising Sun into a worldwide smash hit.

And the Concorde audience were treated to a double helping of that iconic tune from the 60s which rounded off a fun-packed evening of rock and blues at the Stoneham Lane club.

He might be two years shy of his 70th birthday but Price does not hold back as he attacks the keyboard with such gusto that the keys practically fly into the air.

He is well into a nationwide tour which will take him for the first time to the Glastonbury Festival as this world-famous musical feast celebrates its 40 th anniversary.

It is hard to believe that it is more than 40 years ago that Alan Price made his Concorde debut. Then he was paid £25 and he still has the contract hanging on his wall at home.

The Alan Price Set was then riding high in the 60s charts with I Put A Spell On You, Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear, Hi, Lili Hi Lo and Don’t Stop the Carnival.

He still breezes through these old favourites but breathes a huge sigh when he reminds his audience just how long he has been playing them.

But it was a number from the song book of American rock star Jackson Browne, Say It Is Not True, which had one of the biggest impacts of the night and closed the second set.

Poor People, from Price’s highly acclaimed O Lucky Man album, shows how much the veteran musician who has never forgotten his Geordie roots, sings from the soul.

Then he upped the tempo by turning back the clock to his days with The Animals with a rip roaring rendition of Boom Boom, the cover of the John Lee Hooker classic.

For his Concorde appearance Price had the multi-talented backing of fellow legendary keyboard wizard Zoot Money, who hails from Bournemouth and guitarist/vocalist Bobby Tench, famed for his work with Jeff Beck, Van Morrison and Humble Pie.

Completing the line-up with some impressive solo performances were drummer Martin Wild and Peter Grant on bass guitar.

Watching on the side lines was another famous Geordie, former Saints boss Lawrie McMenemy.

And Alan Price & His Band certainly scored a big hit with the Concorde audience.