AN evening of blues and rock ’n’ roll is planned for St Mary’s Parish Hall, in Barnard Castle, next month, to raise funds for the benefit Ukrainian refugees.
The charity concert, on Saturday, April 9, will see four musicians and friends – John Rackham, Andy Yeadon, Dean Jackson and Paul Hughes – performing together for the first time in 16 years.
The last time this fab four played together in 2006 when they performed a set at the Cavern Club, in Liverpool.
Mr Rackham said: “To this day I have no idea how Andy managed to wangle us a gig there.
“It was great fun; I think we mainly played Rolling Stones tunes.
“This time we’re going to be doing everything from 1930s blues right through to the classics.
“It’ll definitely be foot-tapping stuff.”
They will be joined for the evening by Catalina Rock Club – featuring Sam Payne and Richard Wetherill.
The event had been planned as a Friends of St Mary’s (FOSM) fundraiser, but in light of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, organisers decided to change it to raise money to support the humanitarian appeal being organised through the Disasters Emergency Committee.
Di Peat, chairwoman of the FOSM, said: “The last bands gig was pre-Covid in February 2020 and it was a huge success and we’re sure this event will also be hugely popular.
“Although we had organised the event initially to raise money for the fabric of the hall,
“It is such a horrendous situation in Ukraine at the moment we just felt it was the right thing to do.
“The bands are not charging for the night to increase the amount sent to the charity. Organisers will be hoping the event will be another sell-out. There will be a bar and a raffle on the night and an opportunity to donate to the charity.”
Tickets cost £17.50 and will include a pie and peas supper and are available for purchase through ticket source at https://bit.ly/3CHhHMS.
