Some wonderful people have donated some wonderful items for the Rock and Respite auction. We’ll get through as many of them as we can on the day and then open things up online next week.

1. LOVE Mosaic donated by Didsbury based ceramicist, Amanda McCrann – SOLD
2. Tickets for the London premiere of The Dinner Party and after party with the cast, crew and soundtrack bands – SOLD
3. Dave Haslam has donated a copy of his book ‘Manchester, England’, signed by the author
4. Louis Barabbas has pledged a living room gig and will cook a meal for the hosts!
5. Signed painting of the very beautiful, very talented Jess of The Jessie Rose Trip from artist Maz Seaman - SOLD
6. A four piece Heinrich Berndes stainless steel induction cookware donated by award winning Manchester designers, Ferrious
7. Chameleons Vox/Artery gig tickets for October 11th and a place on a Band on The Wall Education Class – harmonica/Cuban drumming/choir.
8. David Weir Rangers shirt, signed by whole squad – donated by Snidge
9. Portrait shoot and framed print, courtesy of top photographer, Alison Groves
10. A set of hand-wound guitar pickups from Jaime Campbell
11. A signed ‘The Suns’ (band playing at gig) silk-screen artwork, signed by band and artist.
12. A signed Martin Johnson testimonial shirt, kindly donated by Maureen Toole
13. THE DIDSBURY LOT: i) A tower of thirty six cupcakes donated by Airy Fairy Cup Cakes ii) Exotic flower bouquet being donated by the lovely Sian at The Flower Lounge, Didsbury
14. Two days studio time at the swish Kasbahn, kindly donated by the amazing Plain Sounds
15. Jo from The Travelling Band has donated an acoustic set in someone’s living room for the Francis House auction.
16. A piece of original artwork from artist Danny Cawley
17. A limited edition print of The Rolling Stones in the Rain by Jim Heath.
18. David Nolan’s book “Tony Wilson – You’re Entitled to an Opinion” signed by by the author.
19. Three canvas prints of The Travelling Band donated by Chris Gravett
20. A piece of original acrylic artwork from Neil Richardson at Cheye Art
21. Sector 9 Ghost Tree Longboard Skateboard very kindly donated by Joe Moss
22. A Fender guitar donated by the lovely people at Johnny Roadhouse. Many thanks to Clive Leighton for sorting this out for us.
23. One whole year’s bus travel courtesy of System One Travelcards

PHEW! That’s the lot. Let’s just take a moment to remember why we’re doing all this, shall we?

Date: Sunday 19 September 2010

Venue: Sound Control, Manchester – £6 adv, £7 on the day

Doors open: 2pm

Adam and Jo from THE TRAVELLING BAND will be playing in the bar to welcome you on arrival and then the action moves to the upstairs stage …

2.30 – 2.50: THE LOVELY EGGS

3.05 – 3.25: SAM HAINE

3.40 – 4.00: THIS MORNING CALL

4.15 – 4.45: THE SUNS

5.00 – 5.20: TWIN THEA

5.35 – 5.55: NO*TOKYO [acoustic set]

6.10 – 6.30: BLIND ATLAS

6.45 – 7.05: THE HIDDEN REVOLUTION

7.20 – 7.40: THE SWITCH

7.55 – 8.25: KID BRITISH [acoustic set]

8.40 – 9.10: THE JESSIE ROSE TRIP

9.25 – 9.55: EXIT CALM

10.10 – 10.40: SONIC BOOM SIX

10.55 – 11.25: LOUIS BARABBAS & THE BEDLAM SIX

Thanks Dave!

Listen to the music … HERE

Rock and Respite is a day of music to raise some much needed cash for Francis House and to also bring their amazing work to the attention of a whole new group of people.

Yes, that’s you!

From 2pm on Sunday 19 September, Sound Control in central Manchester will be home to a roll call of hot up-and-coming bands, some well known names and faces, an auction of some very special bits and pieces and a whole lotta love and fun.

Bands lined up to play Rock and Respite include (in alphabetical order): Blind Atlas, Clint Boon (DJ), Exit Calm, Frazer King, Kid British, Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six, NO*TOKYO, Sonic Boom Six, The Hidden Revolution, The Jessie Rose Trip,The Lovely Eggs, The Suns, The Switch, The Travelling Band, This Morning Call and Twin Thea.

Tickets are available now from Ticketline priced at £5 (plus booking fee), £7 on the day.

Stand by for more updates!

Here are the bands confirmed to play so far. We’ll be posting much more about all these lovely people who’re giving up their September Sunday in the name of Francis House.

In alphabetical order because we love them all equally:

Blind Atlas

DJ Clint Boon

Exit Calm

Frazer King

Kid British [acoustic]

Louis Barabbas & The Bedlam Six

Mike Garry … ok, not strictly speaking a band but we think he rocks.

NO*TOKYO

Sonic Boom Six

The Hidden Revolution

The Jessie Rose Trip

The Lovely Eggs

The Suns

The Switch

The Travelling Band

This Morning Call

Twin Thea

by clicking RIGHT HERE you’ll find everything you need to know about our venue, Sound Control.

and click RIGHT HERE to get your tickets.

Most parents learn that to properly care for others, you first need to look after yourself. They understand that taking care of their own health and well-being makes them better parents and better equipped to deal with all the curve balls that parenting throws their way.

But what if your family includes a child with round-the-clock medical needs; 24:7-non-stop-never-ending-day-in-day-out care that only you can give? To say that’s a challenge is something of an understatement. Families struggle, brothers and sisters suffer, relationships deteriorate, dreams of personal fulfillment are shattered.

This is where Manchester’s Francis House Children’s Hospice comes in.

Francis House is a hospice providing essential respite and terminal care for families and children with life-limiting conditions and illnesses; all in a loving, comfortable and fun home-from-home environment.

Crucially, Francis House provides all this care for free, nothing, nada, zilch, to anyone who needs it.

And plenty of people need it.

There are now well over 200 very poorly children and their families depending on respite care at Francis House and as that number increases, the amount of time each family can use the facilities over the course of a year steadily decreases. So, to keep pace with demand more accommodation desperately needs to be built. Of course, it all costs cold, hard cash.

This is where Rock and Respite wants – with your help – to try to make a difference.

As we’re aware that not everyone who’d like to support Rock and Respite is able to come along on the day, we’ve set up a smashing little page over at JustGiving so those who are too busy or too far away can show Francis House a little love.

In fact, even if you are joining us for the gig, please think about donating a little extra.

All you have to do is click! JustGiving.com/RockandRespite