Gwen Dickey – the voice of American soul and R&B group Rose Royce which first hit the top of the charts in the 1970s – is the star attraction to perform at Royston Soul Club’s big bonanza next month.

The history of the soul club reaches back as far as the band which Gwen first fronted – it has also been pumping out the hits for nearly five decades and now holds five shows a year at Royston Town FC’s Garden Walk ground.

Each May a big-name artist appears in the marquee and, after last year’s success with Odyssey topping the bill, the 2016 headliner is Gwen – pictured right.

Supporting her on the night will be Mr Soul and Bernita playing live saxophone, as well as the club’s resident DJ – Simon Robertson of Rising High Discos.

The Rose Royce canon is crammed with classics from the golden days of disco, with compilation-friendly chart-toppers like Car Wash, I’m Going Down, Wishing on a Star, and Love Don’t Live Here Any More all on the playlist.

Soul club founder Andy Geraghty said: “I always put on a big name act in May to make it a fun weekend.

“It’s nice to see people enjoy themselves. I see some here who I have seen regularly since the 1970s.”

Royston Soul events are for over 30s only and tickets for May’s bash on the Saturday of the Whitsun bank holiday weekend, from 7.30pm to midnight, are £25. They’re available now from the football club.

The following day – Sunday, May 29 – there will be a beer festival at the club, with gates open at 12 noon. There will be at least 24 real ales and six ciders on offer, as well as bouncy castles, a photo booth, and a barbecue. Music will be on the menu here, too, with Melissa, Wolfpack, Sofasonic, Folding Stars, and Starfish all on the bill.

Admission is £2 per adult, children go free, and the first 100 adults through the gate will receive a free souvenir glass.