The Female of the Species concert will raise funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal

THE Female of the Species are coming back to Melksham Assembly Hall at the end of this month to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal.

This year’s charity gig takes place on Saturday, September 30 and the group are hoping to raise more than £3,000. Doors open at 7.30pm and the concert begins at 8pm.

The move follows a very successful charity concert in 2015 at the same venue. The Female of the Species is a group of female musicians from Wiltshire and Somerset who come together to perform for charity.

They are Nicky Davis, from Warminster-based People Like Us and The Reason; Glastonbury’s Julia Greenland from Soulville Express and Delta Swing; Frome’s Claire Perry from Big Mamma & the Misfitz; solo artist Charmaigne Andrews from Melksham, and Julie Moreton from Trowbridge’s Train to Skaville and Jules & The Odd Men.

Julie Moreton said: “Each of the girls chooses three or four songs from their bank’s set list and then we add in the stuff that we sing together.”

The Female of the Species first came together for a one-off gig at Trowbridge Civic Hall in 2014 to raise £3,395 for the Hope Centre in Southwick, a charity that helps adults with learning difficulties.

Ms Moreton added: “It was so successful, we’ve had no choice but to do it all again and again.” Their previous show at Melksham Assembly Hall in 2015 raised £2,920 for Wiltshire MIND, the mental health charity. The group were all too busy to organise a charity gig last year.

Also featuring on the night on September 30 will be two young performers, James Dempsey and Laura Jayne Burt, who are being given stage time to increase their experience of performing.

The show will then continue with People Like Us and the Female of the Species, who will treat the audience to a mix of Ska, Reggae, Soul, Motown, Blues, Modern pop and Rock all backed by a live band.

Every single penny raised prior, during and after the event will be donated to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal, which is raising £1.25 million to complete its new operational centre at Semington near Melksham.

Tickets are on sale now at £10 from Melksham Assembly Hall (01225 709887) or buy online: www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/347127 (booking fee applies).