The 100-capacity room was full by the time singer-songwriter Jersey Budd took to the stage to play numbers from his debut album Wonderlands and some new hits. Uncle Frank and Fatal Star – duo Frank Benbini and Na’im Cortazzi – had the crowd in stitches with their hip hop set, which included a version of the Alicia Keys and Jay Z track, Empire State of Mind, about Leicester rather than New York.

Hannah Cummins, 27, of Leicester’s West End, won a pair of weekend camping tickets to Summer Sundae festival in the raffle. “I really enjoyed the gig, especially

Charlie. She was amazing, she had a really nice voice. “I can’t believe I won the tickets, I’ve been twice before and it’s a really good festival,” she said. Boyfriend Jon Young, 31, said: “Uncle Frank was really cool and Jersey Budd was good, too. It was a good turnout as well and all for a good cause.”

Ady Szucik, 39, of Clarendon Park, Leicester, said: “It was brilliant and the atmosphere was good. “Everyone joined in. Frank was the highlight of the night.”

Partner Zoe Keightley, 33, said: “There was a real buzz when Frank came on. I thought Charlie was really good, too.” Libby Sims, 22, of Cosby, said: “I thought it was a really good show.”

With all the bands playing free and Firebug, in Millstone Lane, also putting on the show without charge, the £776 raised through tickets and the raffle will all go to the Mercury’s LOROS Appeal, which has collected more than £200,000 for the Groby Road hospice since November.

Headline act Frank, who played the gig in between tour shows with the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, said he was happy to help out. “It was great, really cool,” he said. “The fact it was full and everyone had a smile on their face was great. It’s good to help raise lots of money.”

Mercury reporter Gemma Peplow and sister Nicki will set off for the 120km trek in China for the appeal on Saturday, May 8. They have so far raised more than £5,000 for the appeal, which aims to help support LOROS’s £2m extension, which opened in October.

Review by Simon Ward - Party Music with a Pinch of Cyanide
Jaunty acoustic pop, hip hop skits about New Parks and a showstopping set by Leicester’s gravelly voiced answer to Paul Weller – this packed-out night at Firebug had it all. Charlie Jones, of Charlie and the Martyrs, took to the stage first – a vision in a black sparkly dress and Gaga-esque peroxide blonde hair.

Tonight, she had only her acoustic guitar for company – the Martyrs mysteriously missing. It mattered little, though. Her voice and knack for a catchy, feel-good, singalong chorus filled the room. She sounds a little like Kate Nash – but minus the awful mockney accent. This can only be a good thing. Next up, “this is a song called Cyanide”. Yep the summery pop is over and things have taken a turn for the morose. Folk songstress Martha Bean is in no mood for feel-good pop.

In a different setting her fingerpicking guitar wizardry and pitchperfect falsetto would be enchanting. Tonight it’s slightly lost on a Saturday night crowd ready for a party.

We are informed Jersey Budd has a sore throat tonight – which is why he plays only a handful of numbers. His gravelly tones gave songs of his debut album Wonderlands an even more soulful quality, like a mid-90s Weller. After the singer-songwriters, hip hop ensemble Uncle Frank brought the evening to a close in style with tongue in cheek rap, big beats and samples. Half the crowd were dancing, the other half laughing. Needless to say – they were all having a good time.

24/04/2010 - Music Stars set to shine at Special Charity Show
Jersey Budd, Autohype, Charlie and The Martyrs, Fatal Star will be playing Firebug for LOROS tonight. They are four of Leicestershire’s most talented music acts – and they are all performing together for our first Summer Sundae Fringe Showcase gig tonight. We are hoping to see dozens of music fans queuing out the door at Firebug as Charlie and the Martyrs, Autohype, Jersey Budd and Leicester musician Frank Benbini, with his acts Uncle Frank and Fatal Star, take to the stage.

Entry is first come, first served and the capacity is just 100, so our advice is to get down early to make sure you don’t miss out. The gig, presented by our entertainment guide The Week and local internet music forum Pineapster, has been organised as part of our Leicester Mercury LOROS Appeal, which has raised more than £200,000 for the hospice since it was launched in November. Organised by Summer Sundae Fringe Festival director Andy Black and Mercury reporter Gemma Peplow, we are aiming to raise hundreds of pounds to add the appeal pot.

The show will be a preview to the Summer Sundae Fringe Festival, which features local acts performing at several city venues the night before the main event gets under way. Andy said: “We’re proud supporters of LOROS and keen to help them whenever we can. “We never really need much of an excuse to have another party.”

The gig starts at 7.30pm tonight. Entry is £5 on the door and there will also be a raffle with prizes including a pair of weekend tickets to the main Summer Sundae festival in August and a guided tour round Leicester City’s training ground. Headline act Frank, who is playing the Leicester gig in between tour dates with the New York bands, is promising a party. He said: “I’m looking forward to the night. I’ll be bringing the party, with my crew doing a mad reggae/ hip hop set.”

All proceeds from the night will sponsor Gemma’s China trek in aid of the Mercury’s LOROS campaign. She and her sister, Nicki, who will set off for the 120km trek in just two weeks, have already raised more than £5,000 to add to the appeal. Gemma said: “The gig will hopefully add at least £500 to add to that and we’ve got more sponsorship expected as well. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has helped get this gig together and I hope to see lots of people at Firebug tomorrow.”

22/04/2010 - Leicester’s Top Talent is appearing in a Charity Gig this weekend
Well, here it is folks. The Mercury’s very own Summer Sundae Fringe Showcase festival is happening on Saturday and it’s going to be a pretty good night, even if we do say it ourselves. Presented in conjunction with the lovely people at Pineapster, the gig will feature some of the biggest acts in Leicester at the moment – (drum roll please) Charlie and the Martyrs, Autohype, Jersey Budd, Fatal Star and Uncle Frank. You can read more about the first three inside but here we give you The Make It Nice Brothers, aka Uncle Frank Benbini and Na’im “Blue Steel” Cortazzi, the duo who make up both Uncle Frank and Fatal Star.

There’s talk of DJs, skits and the entire Leicester Riders basketball team coming down to support the set. “It’s going to be a special night,” said Na’im. “Uncle Frank is... well, how to explain it. It’s like a theatrical Benny Hill meets Barry White.

“We’re bringing down our friends from the Riders, as well, to give us a bit of support and we’ve got a DJ, Boy Kid Cloud, so we’re going to do it Run DMC style. It’s going to be a party. We’ve got a specially penned song just for the night, about the Leicester music scene.”

For anyone who doesn’t know, the pair have been performing in the two acts for several years. Na’im fronts Fatal Star and Frank takes the reins for Uncle Frank. “There’s too much talent there to restrict it to just one thing,” laughs Na’im. “But for this show we’ll put it all together. It’ll make sense when you see it live, I think. Music for us was never about being popstars or being famous. It’s truly an expression of our souls.” More laughter. “I know that sounds pretentious but we do love it. We’ll never stop.” Music has been a big part of their lives for a long time, and the pair met while in other bands about 10 years ago.

As well as his partnership with Na’im, Frank is also busy touring the world with his other band (you may have heard of them, Fun Lovin’ Criminals? He plays drums.) “They’re really good guys,” says Na’im. “They look after their own.”