TWO of the biggest names in Island music are being asked to throw their weight behind a charity concert planned to help victims of the Haiti earthquake.
Bestival boss Rob da Bank and John Giddings, from Solo, which runs the Isle of Wight Festival, are being asked for their support for a charity concert scheduled to take place at Cowes Yacht Haven next month.
The harrowing scenes on our television screens over the past few days prompted sales manager Lee Taylor, who works for Spencer Rigging in Cowes, to ask Isle of Wight residents, firms and local entertainers to help organise a relief effort on the Isle of Wight.
He has secured Cowes Yacht Haven as a venue for the concert, which is due to take place on Saturday, February 6, and has also managed to obtain a stage, lighting and special effects for the concert, all being donated free by Isle of Wight firms.
Ferry firm Red Funnel has already said it will help with marketing the event and ticket sales.
Nearly 4,000 people have also signed up to the Facebook site, pledging their support for the concert.
Lee said he had yet to confirm who the bands would be but had been impressed with the support he had received so far. He said he was waiting for a reply from Solo and Rob da Bank about his idea for the concert.
He said: "I have put feelers out to Solo and Rob da Bank. It will only be three or four bands. The people on the Isle of Wight have been fantastic so far."
Last year, Lee organised a Facebook campaign to save the historic Cowes Week firework display, which was threatened with the axe.
He got thousands of people to pledge funds on the social networking site and helped to save the traditional display which marks the end of Cowes Week.
Solo told the County Press Mr Giddings was away but due to return to his office tomorrow (Friday), while Bestival said it would listen to any approach.
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk