Get ready to rock!

POWDERHAM Castle is going to be rocked to its foundations again by the mighty Status Quo.

Renowned for its signature rock rhythms, the Quo has played more than 6,000 live shows to over 25 million people — literally rockin' all over the world.

For the third time, the band's Devon fans are being given the opportunity to hear the classic tracks live in the grounds of Powderham Castle on Sunday, July 26.

"I am very much looking forward to it," said singer, guitarist and songwriter Rick Parfitt. "Hopefully, it will be tremendous — it was last time. I enjoy being in Devon and hopefully we'll have a good day there.

"I like all these summer events we have in England. It's like England has discovered it has an outdoors. You get slightly different audiences — people who, I am sure, don't go out to concerts in the winter.

"If it's a reasonable day as well, that's where the British really come into their own.

"It's definitely good to play outside. By September, you think, 'I haven't played a show indoors for months'. It's all part of rock 'n' roll's rich tapestry."

When asked what he thought about Devon audiences, Rick, who celebrates his 60th birthday this year, said: "I don't. We always try our best. It's not like we go to Devon and think, 'We really like them'. We do the show and hopefully it's great. Sometimes it's not, sometime's it's fantastic.

"We just want to get out onto the stage and show off, which is what I always wanted to do. Those of us in this business are insecure little show-offs."

The five-piece band, made up of Rick, Francis Rossi, Andrew Bown, John 'Rhino' Edwards and Matthew Letley, is still going as strong as ever.

The Powderham gig is part of Status Quo's Pictures: 40 Years of Hits tour. The story of Status Quo started with a London beat group called the Spectres, with Francis Rossi on vocals and guitar and Alan Lancaster on bass. The Spectres released three unsuccessful singles before going psychedelic and adopting the name Traffic Jam, which also released an unsuccessful single Almost But Not Quite. In August 1967, the group again changed its name, this time to Status Quo.

Since the release of its first single, Pictures of Matchstick Men, in 1968, the Quo has sold more than 112 million records and continues to pack out concert venues across the globe.

The band has recorded more than 60 chart hits in the UK, more than any other rock group in history, and 22 of these have reached the UK top 10.

After the psychedelic sound of the first single, the band rapidly converted to the hard rock its fans have come to love, with albums Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon and Down The Dustpipe.

But it was the albums Piledriver in 1973 and On The Level in 1975, which included Rocking All Over The World, Down Down, Blue For You, and Whatever You Want, which broke the group to a larger audience.

Tickets for the concert cost £37.50 (plus booking fee). To book tickets via Powderham Castle telephone 01626 890243 between Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Alternatively telephone 0871 424 4444 (24-hour plus booking fee), or visit www.ticketline.co.uk.

Gates open at 6.30pm and the concert starts at 8pm.