Osmond superstars are back for second Barlick show

"Elvis Presley told us when your fans bring their grandchildren to your shows you know you've conquered the generation gap."
Jay and Merrill Osmond. (s)Jay and Merrill Osmond. (s)
Jay and Merrill Osmond. (s)

And that’s exactly what Merrill Osmond and his younger brother Jay have achieved after more than 50 years in the music business.

Megastars Merrill and Jay will return to Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, Rainhall Road, for a second night on Tuesday next week, with the magic kicking off at 8pm.

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Pendle audiences still can’t get enough of the Osmond Brothers.

But luckily, Lancashire fans are being given a second chance to see the singing sensations on their Vintage tour after the first Barlick show sold out.

Jay said: “England is like our second home. It’s beautiful. We’ve been coming here twice a year since 1972 and we’ve made so many wonderful friends and memories.

“Our fans have been with us for years and years so the gig will be like going back in time.”

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The superstars are back by popular demand and will perform all their Osmonds hits in another intimate concert with a meet and greet with fans.

Jay added: “It won’t be crazy like it used to be back in the 70s. Back then our shows were outrageously loud with fireworks and Donny flying over the audiences.

“What you’ll see here instead will be intimate, well-paced and laid back but it’s a lot more fun. You can expect a plenty of laughing, singing, audience interaction and good old memories.

“We’ll also be performing many hits which people might not have heard.”

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Think golden classics - with an acoustic, stripped-back twist.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been performing for more than 50 years,” Jay said.

“Merrill began when he was four and I was just two. We’re in our 60s now so we’ve had a whole lifetime of memories on stage.

“We’ve learnt many lessons and at this time in our lives there is nothing serious going on. So these shows are my favourite because there’s nothing about them which is uptight or rigid.

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They’re just relaxed and fun and we have banter back and forth with the audience.”

The stars will meet with fans, take pictures, answer questions, explain the inspiration behind their songs and offer a sneak-peek into a rehearsal, before finishing with a good-bye track.

The duo have fans ranging in age and hailing from all over the world, said Merrill, and the Osmond name remains an international brand.

Despite their huge success, they’ve no plans to stop any time soon.

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In fact, the pair have released a new CD, Vintage, and the tour includes reworked classics like One Bad Apple, Crazy Horses, Down by the Lazy River, Let Me In and Love Me For a Reason.

The Osmond Brothers began life as Merrill, Jay, Wayne and Alan who recorded their first album together in 1963.

With the addition of Donny, Marie and later Jimmy, the siblings have released approximately 200 albums between them and sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

The hit-makers also have 59 gold and platinum records to their name.

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Their success is down to their versatility, with the singers releasing smash-hits in a range of genres, including barbershop, pop, rock, disco, country, gospel, Broadway, swing and jazz.

They have even recorded their songs in eight different languages, including Japanese, Samoan and Latin.

Today, Merrill and Jay’s music is an eclectic mix of rock and roll, gospel and country.

They’re even planning on releasing a Christmas album, Rocking Christmas With Merrill and Jay Osmond, which will bring them back to the UK in November and December.

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They will also headline P&O cruise nights which kick off on September 1st and will be the first cruise setting off from Britain to star the Osmond Brothers.

Merrill added: “Music is the only thing to bypass the conscious and go straight to the subconscious. It can make you feel sad, fearful or happy.

“There are so many issues in the world but hopefully after one of our shows you will leave feeling more encouraged.

“There’s a sense of stewardship when millions around the world are writing to you or contacting you on social media. When you have that much going for you, you don’t want to stop making music.

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“We consider all our fans who have grown up with us as family and people who were having bad times in the 70s have told us their lives have been changed by our music and interviews.

"That’s what keeps us going right there.”

Doors open for Tuesday’s gig at 7-30pm.

Only 50 tickets are available.

To book £50 per person visit www.barnoldswickmusicandartscentre.com or call 01282 813 374 or 07712 628 366.