A NORTH EAST music charity that raises vital funds to help in the detection of cancer is gearing up for its biggest event to date.

Music v Cancer will welcome critically-acclaimed band Turin Brakes to The Grand Hotel, in Hartlepool, for a performance on Friday, October 3.

The London-based duo have released a string of hit singles while their debut album, The Optimist LP, was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in 2000.

“This is probably the highest profile act we have booked for our Weekender performances and I’m absolutely thrilled that we will have Turin Brakes in Hartlepool. They have consistently been at the top of their game since they came to prominence in the late 1990s and the latest album We Were Here is superb. There’s not a bad track on it,” says Tony Larkin, founder of Music v Cancer.

Music v Cancer was founded by Tony after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2009. After getting the all-clear he set up the charity, holding live music events, auctions of music memorabilia and fundraising initiatives across the region.

Acts which have performed for Music v Cancer include Jack Savoretti, The Blow Monkeys, Nizlopi, Black, Jon Allen and David McAlmont. BBC TV presenter and musician Jools Holland is the charity’s official patron.

Meanwhile, stars including The Arctic Monkeys, The Stereophonics, Peter Gabriel, Gary Barlow and Jessie J have donated signed memorabilia to help the charity generate in excess of £140,000.

Those funds have been put to good use supporting health professionals at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust to detect the early signs of cancers, and particularly bowel cancer. Recently, the charity donated £36,000 to the trust to purchase two bladder cancer probes, to detect the condition much quicker.

“It’s incredible how much Music v Cancer has achieved in four years. We have been able to bring some of the country’s finest musical talent to Hartlepool to perform while some of the world’s biggest stars – everyone from Kaiser Chiefs to Kasabian – have supported us by donating signed memorabilia, which always prove a hit at our auctions and Facebook competitions.

“But most importantly, we have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds in the early detection of cancer and raise awareness of these conditions. Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK with statistics revealing Hartlepool as the town with the highest death-rate linked with the disease,” says Tony.

As well as Turin Brakes, Music v Cancer will be hosting singer-songwriters Jake Morley, Antonio Lulic and Kal Lavelle on October 3.

The following night, acts will include headliner Jon Allen, whose album is generating regular airplay on BBC Radio 2; Z-Star, Jimmy Docherty, who performed at the first Music V Cancer event and songwriter Paul Liddell, from Sunderland. Both shows will also feature a music auction with people able to bid for various items donated by stars to the charity in recent months.

Tickets for Music v Cancer’s October Weekender are selling fast but are still available. They cost £15 per night and are available from the Best Western Grand Hotel, Hartlepool on 01429-266345