SKELMANTHORPE Band seem to have the wonderful knack of attracting top notch performers for their annual concert, and this year’s annual concert was no exception as they welcomed opera singer Paul Potts to join them on the Town Hall stage.

The first (and certainly) best-ever winner of the TV programme Britain’s Got Talent in 2007 undoubtedly helped attract an audience upwards of 700 on Saturday evening, and he was rightly awarded a double-standing ovation at the end of an excellent concert.

After ending his second half spot, accompanied by the band in Time to Say Goodbye the audience were on their feet to acclaim this softy-spoken, unassuming man with the massive voice.

And a handful of people were already making their way out of the hall when he delighted the audience by returning to the stage at the end of the concert to deliver a stunning encore – ‘Nessun Dorma,’ from the opera Turandot, which, of course won over the hearts of the nation to bring him victory in the BGT programme four years ago.

There is simply no substitute for talent, and Potts served notice that he possesses that quality in abundance when he opened with the band in the first half with the ever-popular Granada, demonstrating not only his incredible power, but his amazing sostenuto skill.

Also included in his varied programme was the hauntingly beautiful ‘Il Mio Cuore Va’ (My Heart Goes On) made famous in the film Titanic, ‘Parla Piu Piano’ (the love theme from the Godfather) and several other items from this third album Cinema Paradiso.

The Band were also highly impressive, right from the stirring opening of Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Walking with Heroes’ to the intricate crossbeats of Von Suppe’s ‘Poet and Peasant.’

Indeed, all three of their sets of their excellent programme, put together by their musical director John Roberts included some popular work like John Williams’ Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Strike up the Band, Bach’s Toccata in D Minor which featured some brilliant work from the percussion section and concluding with William Walton’s Crown Imperial, most recently heard at the wedding of William and Catherine.

Altogether a cracking night, with a cracking Special Guest. Long may Skelmanthorpe continue to produce such evenings.