In the pantheon of British soul, few names resonate like The Real Thing. Born in Liverpool’s Toxteth district in the early 1970s, and rumoured that Dave Smith spent his formative years here in Runcorn, the band carved out a legacy that defied expectations.

At a time when the UK charts were dominated by glam and rock, these four young men, Chris Amoo, Dave Smith, Kenny Davis, and Ray Lake, brought silky harmonies and streetwise grooves to the mainstream. Their breakout hit, “You to Me Are Everything,” didn’t just top the charts in 1976, it rewrote the rules for Black British music.

Fast-forward five decades and The Real Thing are still delivering the goods. Fronted by original vocalists Amoo and Smith, their live shows remain a masterclass in soul sophistication. And while their roots are firmly planted in Liverpool, Runcorn has embraced them as hometown heroes, where The Brindley Theatre has become a regular stop on their touring map.

The Brindley isn’t just another venue; it’s a cultural hub that mirrors The Real Thing’s own journey that is community driven, proudly regional, and quietly world class. From their Greatest Hits tour in 2020 to the upcoming 50^th anniversary celebration in 2026, the band’s appearances here feel like more than gigs. They are reunions. Moments where generations gather to bask in the warmth of songs that have soundtracked weddings and late night kitchen discos.

Their connection to Runcorn is about belonging. In a world obsessed with novelty, The Real Thing offer something rarer: authenticity. And when those opening chords of “Can You Feel the Force?” ripple through The Brindley, you can bet the answer is a resounding yes!