THE Legends of Country show is returning to The Sands Centre.

The show was started in Ireland by James McGarrity, who four years ago decided to bring it to England, and Carlisle is becoming a favourite destination.

It took off and since then over 300,000 people have been to see the show across the country.

“We started off doing five or six shows in Ireland. With all the popularity it really went from there,” said James. “We have been touring England for three years and we are coming back to The Forum in Barrow and The Sands in Carlisle for the third time, it has been growing all the time."

“We are very much looking forward to coming to Barrow and Carlisle.”

The 2020 tour will showcase tributes to Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Don William, Patsy Cline and Kenny Rogers and new tributes to icons Hank Williams, Charley Pride, Glen Campbell, Tammy Wynette and Jim Reeves with countless other well known hit songs in a musical extravaganza.

“We will take you to Nashville and back in one night without you leaving your seat,” said James.

“There are eight or nine artists we focus on, and we also do one or two others, like Petula Clark and Emmylou Harris. We do the big popular songs but I would say the set we introduced last week is the strongest we have done.

“We change the show each January because a lot of people keep coming back. All the songs are well known country anthems. I would say Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash are the two most popular.

“We get a good spread of all ages. People grow up listening to the music of their grandparents. We do try and dress up like the artists , but we don’t try and sound like them. The singers in our show are well known in their own right.”

The show has also recorded a video of a Hank Williams melody which has had over two million views on social media. Their busy schedule means they have 125 theatre dates in 2020.

“If we keep selling out venues and the demand is there we will keep coming,” said James. “Our dates in January and February are up four per cent on last year. We have sold out 25 out of 30 shows.

“We have a four-piece band which tours with the show, called Celtic Storm. They are a well known band from Ireland. Wherever you are you don’t have to go further than 50 miles from Land’s End to John O’ Groats to see one of our shows.

“We do about 20 shows in Ireland, 30 in Scotland, and the rest in England and Wales. We go to the Isle of Man as well.

The show is at The Sands Centre on Sunday February 9. Go to www.thesandscentre.co.uk