A LOCAL indie band are hoping to get the troops rocking as they fly out to Germany for a charity gig.

The Swindon-based indie rock band The Blackwaters was contacted by a soldier to perform at a one-off gig before the servicemen are deployed to Afghanistan.

The band, who are used to performing three or four times a week, are flying to Germany today for the gig tonight where they will be performing their own songs.

The gig was originally planned to be a festival style line-up, at the Princess Royal Barracks in Gütersloh but, after failing to get clearance for all the bands into the barracks, the organiser had to pick just two acts.

The Blackwaters, made up of lead singer John Mcdonough, lead guitarist Dave Brown, Lee Pettifoot on bass and Ben Fletcher on drums, formed in 2009 and said that they were proud to be performing for the troops.

Dave said: “It is an amazing opportunity to do something like this.

“When we were asked to do it we said yes straight away and didn’t realise it was going to be in Germany.

“The whole band are excited about it, it is a real honour for us.

“It is definitely not a normal gig for us, but it will be great to go out there and try to provide a morale boost before they head off to Afghanistan.”