MALVERN’S newest music venue will be playing host to a major fund-raising event at the start of next month.

The Re-Con in Church Street, which opened at the end of December, will be the venue for a three-day festival in aid of the Acorns Children’s Hospice from February 8-10.

Andy Mapp, of Bank Street, Malvern, said: “This is a follow-on to the private parties I have been arranging at my home for the last three years, where many musicians gather to play in front of friends and family.

“Last year we raised £500 in just one day.”

He said that the event had grown so popular that he teamed up with Neil Collins, owner of Re-Con, to stage a three-day event, featuring no fewer than 28 bands.

Mr Mapp said all the artists are giving their time free, and brewers Marstons have donated 100 T-shirts, which will be printed with custom festival artwork by local artist Sue Thompson, the printing being provided by Tina V, lead singer with This Wicked Tongue, one of the participating bands.

“Thanks to everyone donating their time and effort free of charge, every penny from the sales will go to Acorns,” said Mr Mapp.

The shirts are expected to go on sale in the next couple of weeks.

The performers so far are: Slack Granny, the Dogs of Santorini, Ancient Addicts, Jenny Hallam, Reinforced, Martin Thorne, This Wicked Tongue, Mansize, Massive Head Trauma, Tiger Province, Stomping on Spiders, Gandhi’s Walrus, Retinal Circus, Answer Back, Tyler Massey, Hitchhiker, Black Russian, Four Tart Harmony, Michael Knowles, Clockwork Rifle, Jet Black Cadillac, Babajack, Tone Tanner, the Nancy Boys, Black Hill, 11-11 Band and Freaky Trigger.

The weekend will be compered by Bananaman (Jai Hill, the Bard of Malvern) and Lounge Toad.

Admission will be by donations, suggested as £3, and the money, as well as takings from a raffle and a percentage of the bar takings, will go to the hospice.