The Irvine frontman of a viral, US Billboard Charts top ten band has spoken about his excitement ahead of playing an Ayrshire headline gig.

Will Hitchell, of The Vintage Explosion, has received plaudits for his voice from music legend Rod Stewart amongst others.

Sir Rod said that Will was the "best white soul singer I have ever heard", while Paul Stanley said the frontman is "up there with the greats".

The Irvine-born singer of the Scottish band, which went viral on TikTok and YouTube in October 2022 after a video performing Sam Cooke's A Change is Gonna Come, says he and drummer Douglas, also from Ayrshire, have fond memories of playing in Irvine's Ruby Tuesdays as well as Ayr's Harleys in the 1990s.

The band wow audiences with big covers of '50s and '60s classics, as well as its own original hits.

Will told the Advertiser how the band got started: "I have always loved '50s music and had a dream of putting together a band just like Little Richard and the Upsetters. I finally did it in 2018 with the mission of convincing people, who wouldn't normally listen to this type of music, that they love it.

"I was very lucky to find some great musicians in Glasgow and after a few rehearsals we played our very first gig at The Blue Arrow Jazz Club on Sauchiehall Street.

"Every gig afterwards was a sell-out and we attracted a great bunch of fans in Glasgow. The pandemic obviously put a spanner in the works but we are now fully resurrected and enjoying being back out on the road after the 18-month hiatus. 

"We released a live album straight away, which is a live recording of our very first gig, and it went to number one on the iTunes Album Chart and even made the top ten in the US Billboard charts.

"Since then we have gained fans from all over the world and had a subsequent number one with our debut studio album 'Havin Such a Good Time' which is an album of 10 brand new songs that I wrote. Another highlight was making our national TV debut on ITV's This Morning in May."

Will also said that the band cannot wait to tour this winter, when they will play Ayr Town Hall.

"We will continue to promote our current album and hope to release another early next year. Our 2022/2023 Winter Tour starts in Nov and includes a visit to Ayr Town Hall on November 11.

"This show will be a particular highlight as both myself and our drummer Douglas are from Ayrshire. Our first ever gigs when we started as musicians were all in Ayrshire and we have fond memories of playing in Harleys in Ayr and Ruby Tuesdays in Irvine in the '90s!

"Audiences can expect to be transported back in time for an energetic performance of classic songs from the '50s and early '60s, interspersed with our own songs which are inspired by this era.

"Seeing The Vintage Explosion is not just a show but an experience you will never forget."

Tickets for the Ayr Town Hall show are on sale at www.skiddle.com.