An Ivor Novella winning singer-songwriter, Britain’s biggest reggae stars and one of America’s most successful soul singers will be performing at the Gordon Craig Theatre next weekend.

Things kick off on Friday when the Stevenage venue hosts a Boogie Nights special with Alexander O’Neal, Aswad and Heatwave.

Alexander O’Neal’s second album Hearsay sold over 700,000 copies in the UK alone in the late 1980s, spurred on by monster chart and club tracks Fake and Criticise Four albums on, the soul star is still selling out tours after clocking up 162 weeks in the album charts.

Aswad have a phenomenal recording history – putting out 15 albums over two decades and a history dating back to backing Burning Spear for their mighty 1977 Live album.

The reggae band were inescapable in the 80s and early 90s with mega hits Don’t Turn Around, Shine and On And On.

Sweet soul and dance outfit Heatwave recorded world-wide disco floor-filllers Boogie Nights, Mind Blowing Decisions and Always And Forever. And keyboard player Rod Templeton wrote the monster title track for Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. Not bad eh?

The following evening, three-time Grammy nominee and Ivor Novella winning British guitarist, singer and songwriter Joan Armatrading will take to the stage as part of an eight month European tour.

Her style draws on a wide range of influences spanning pop, blues, folk, reggae and jazz and has endeared her to generations of music lovers.

Support is from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards singer of the year, Chris Wood.

Tickets for Boogie Nights are �28.50, and �30.50 for Joan Armatrading available from the box office on 01438 363200.