ALTUS - The romantic retro-billy band Big Blue Hearts, a foursome that takes Fifties' pop crooning and country-ballad pathos to a higher level, will be performing in Altus at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Altus Plaza Theater, 107 N. Hudson.

The band’s first single, "Lovin' You," from “Here Comes Those Dreams Again” (Eagle Eye Records), is climbing the Texas music charts. Big Blue Hearts' second album (and first independently produced release), also continues to climb the Texas music charts, reaching #9 on the most recent December chart.

Big Blue Hearts has been touring continuously since “Dreams” was released in August, and the band's been sharing bills with the likes of Hootie & the Blowfish and Collective Soul, like it did for the Mix 102.9 KDMX-FM's "Holiday at the Hard Rock" charity event in Dallas.

The first of the band's gigs with Austin rocker Bob Schneider at Austin's Saxon Pub is set for Jan. 23. Before that, however, Big Blue Hearts plays shows with big Texas "countrybilly" combo Two Tons of Steel - Jan. 5 at The Black Gold Bar & Grill in Crowley and Jan. 12 at Firewater Bar & Grill in Dallas.

Big Blue Hearts consists of frontman David Fisher on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Scott Minchk on lead guitar and vocals, J.B. Burton on bass and vocals, and Greg Sobol on drums and vocals.

Cost of the Altus concert is $5. For more information, call 477-3015, or visit the group’s Web site at http://www.mcguckinpr.com/mcguckin/bigblue/bigbluehearts.htm