Bands turn up the heat to raise cash to help victims

The Star joined forces with popular city band Little Man Tate to stage the sell-out concert in aid of victims of the flood on Saturday night.

Rock fans sweated the night away at The Plug in Matilda Street, as the four-piece band rocked their way through the set.

Guitarist Maz told the Star: “The atmosphere was amazing. It was really hot but everyone was just singing and dancing - the crowds were just amazing - everything about it just blew us away.

“We always get a good reception in Sheffield but the crowd on Saturday was something else.”

The lads from the Greystones-based band decided to hold a benefit gig shortly after the devastating effects of the floods became clear.

Maz said: “We have done charity gigs before but we have never put on an event like this. We wanted to do something after seeing how badly people had been affected in the floods. Just seeing the streets under water like that was mental, so we thought let’s do a gig, raise some money and leave it at that.

“We’re not going to be the next Bono or Midge Ure, but Sheffield has been good to us and we just want people to know we care.”

The band - made up of Jon Windle, Ben Surtees, Dan Fields and Maz - were supported by Chesterfield four-piece Reminiscence.

Lead singer Eddie Glossop, his twin brother and guitarist James, bass player Ryan Fletcher, all 16, and drummer Chris Woolley,18, won the chance to support Little Man Tate after Star readers voted online to choose their favourite support act.

Previously the band won the chance to support rock legends Bon Jovi at KC Stadium, Hull.

Eddie said: “We had an amazing night. It was absolutely packed, you couldn’t move and we were really pleased with the reception we got. To be honest I preferred it to performing with Bon Jovi as it was less surreal and we got to chat to the band a lot more.”

A live version of Little Man Tate’s latest single ‘European Lover’ was recorded at the gig.

All profits from the download-only version of the track, available now on the band’s website, will go to the South Yorkshire Flood Appeal.

Log on to www.littlemantate.co.uk to download the track.