Children in Need

"It's a concert like no-one has been too - very relaxed and informal but a lot of fun and it's raising money for a great cause," said promoter Patrick Barker of Lodge Farm, Westhorpe where the gig's taking place on Friday 17 July 2009.

They're hoping to sell around 500 tickets for the event near Stowmarket which also features support from local acts Hot Diggidy Dog and Frank's Tanks. Tickets are £18 and there's a licensed bar and a barbecue using locally-sourced food.

After forming in Liverpool in the late 1950s The Searchers rode the first Britpop wave which saw pop come of age in the UK. Starting out in the clubs of Merseyside, the band followed The Beatles to the legendary Star Club in Hamburg where they played for 128 days - usually involving more then one set a night.

Top Beat, 1964

Returning to the UK they signed for Pye Records and had their main run of hits between 1963 and 1966, including three UK number ones with Sweets For My Sweet, Needles & Pins and Don't Throw Your Love Away.

They were also part of the British Invasion of the USA and saw their version of Lieber & Stoller's Love Potion Number 9 reach number three in the charts there.

While the hits have dried up and there have been a lot of line-up changes, they're still one of the hardest touring bands around (check out their website for evidence!).

"The chap that does the electrics for us, John Roe, used to be one of The Searchers sound guys, so we had the connection there," said Patrick.

"This is our 4th annual charity gig. In previous years we've had The Wurzels and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and we've raised money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and a charity for Tanzania called the DMK Association.

"Our family knows BBC Suffolk's managing editor Peter Cook, so it's all fallen into place with Children in Need."

10% of ticket sales and all the proceeds from a draw and silent auction will go to the BBC CiN Appeal. The promoters, who trade under the name Westhorpe Events, hope to raise around £1500.

BBC Suffolk's early morning presenter Rob Dunger will be your compere for the evening.

This version of The Searchers is not to be confused with Mike Pender's Searchers. Pender was also there at the beginning in Liverpool, but left amid some acrimony in 1985.

The current line-up of The Searchers features original member John McNally on guitar and long-serving bassist/singer Frank Allen (he joined in 1964) alongside more recent recruits Spencer James on guitar and Eddie Roth on drums.