"It's completely out of fashion but it just about fits", he says.

Halifax band Dino and the Travellers is about to re-form for a special charity concert.

In fact there is a double helping of nostalgia for all those who spent the 1960s bopping the night away in church halls, youth clubs and dance halls because another name from the past – Tree – is also making a reappearance. It first took to the stage in 1968.

Both bands will be turning back the clock at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax this Thursday at Small Town Saturday Night, a dance and music night based on the book by Halifax author Trevor Simpson. Money raised will go towards Calderdale Hospital Radio funds.

Les was 15 back in 1961 and a pupil at the former Halifax Technical High School when he developed a passion for the guitar.

"My classmate, Peter Reeve, was taking piano lessons and then we were joined by another pal, Stuart Shaw. It was just a Saturday afternoon thing at first and then at the end of 1961, we were invited to play at a social at St Augustine's. That was our first stage appearance."

They were soon joined by a fourth member, Bob Marsden (aka Dino), who had left school but whose younger brother was friends with the three aspiring musicians.

"I'd always sung because my dad was a Methodist minister and I was hauled off to Sunday school from an early age," says Bob.

"We hadn't had a proper vocalist until Bob came so that gave us a new dimension," says Les. The band's name was inspired by a coffee bar called Dino's in Pellon Lane and a Huddersfield group called Lee and The Travellers.

"The Shadows were the source of it all though," says Les.

"That's what got me into music. I remember when Apache came out and I was blown away."

In 1962 the line-up also included Melvyn Burns (bass guitar) and Graham Hilton (lead guitar). Two years later, they left and David Fox came in on bass. In 1966, Peter left, to be replaced by Vic Gale and a year later Stuart was replaced by drummer Allen Wright.

There have been many memorable concerts including one at Armley Jail in 1967 when Jayne Mansfield topped the bill and playing to a sell-out concert in People's Park in 1964. When David Fox was elected Mayor of Calderdale in 1986 they reformed and released a record, Rainbow Girl, for his charity. It was performed on the roof of Northgate House, Halifax.

Dave Meir, now 61, founder member and drummer with Tree, says the band was established 40 years ago "out of the remnants of two other bands" – Left Hand Drive and Forum Trolls.

The line-up in 1968 featured Dave, David "Zowel" Lowry (vocals), Bruce Hemingway (guitar) and Richard Turner (bass) – and this will be recreated on Thursday.

"The group has been off and on since we started," says Dave. Both he and Zowel are ex-members of the former well-known Halifax band Jude Brown, which turned professional and toured abroad. Zowel still also sings with another local group, Dust'n'Bones.

"We've each done our own thing over the years but we have always kept in touch and the first time we reformed was in 2004," says Dave. Zowel adds that the band's influences have been many including the Boyds, Keith West and Tomorrow.

"We copied them a lot and then later we got into Cream and Led Zeppelin.

"We did our own original stuff too, even brought out a record, Secrets, which John Peel played.

"It went okay. Well, my mum bought it.

"It will be great to be back on the stage though – and to be the only band with all its original members.

"Maybe some old Tree fans will come out of the woodwork to see us."

• Small Town Saturday Night, the dance, on Thursday, will also feature former 1960s pop idol John Leyton, topping the bill, backed by his band The Flames. There will be music and dance demonstrations from Jive Mood and dancing to the sound of DJ Derrick Jackson, of Halifax Rock 'n' Roll Club. Tickets, priced £10 for the event which runs from 7pm to midnight, are on sale at the Victoria Theatre