An alternative Harlow based band is appealing to businesses for sponsorship to help it promote their work in Africa.

Four-piece outfit Naked Angel, which regularly plays gigs in and around London and runs music workshops at local schools and playschemes, is hoping to perform at African festivals this year and next year, to raise its profile.

But without cash back-up, the independent band, which funds its own recordings, promotions and tours, will not be able to make the trips, and it is calling on local businesses to help finance the tour in return for free advertising.

Naked Angel's bass player Brian Jenking said: 'If we get recognition abroad it would help our work locally. Our music is very different and it is diffcult to get work. If we go somewhere else and have success then we can bring that back.

'We are asking for sponsorship rather than donations so that it is a reciprocal arrangement. We can promote the fact that businesses have helped us.'

Set-up two-and-a-half years ago, Naked Angel boasts a talented quartet of musicians: songwriter, vocalist and keyboard player Kat Lee, percussionist Wil Ryan, guitarist Jim Dawson and bass player Brian Jenking.

Brian describes the band's style as 'ambient rock', influenced by Pink Floyd, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Led Zeppelin and even classical composers such as Bach.

They also play African rhythms using a number of African percussion instruments, an ethnic style promoted by Jim, who was raised in Zimbabwe.

Band members enjoy teaching youngsters how to play percussion and their most recent workshop took them to Church Langley Primary School.

Naked Angel has been invited to play some dates in South Africa in September, including the Equinox Festival, and has been approached to play at the Chamanimani Festival in Zimbabwe next year.

But the wages offered would only cover half of one air far to Africa, and cash is desperately needed.

Jim said: 'We are totally independent. Everything is done on a shoestring. This tour would be a priceless opportunity to circulate our music, and a real chance for a musical and cultural exchange.

Band Manager Elaine Jenking added: 'We use African instruments in our workshops so this invitiation is doubly important to us.'

Anyone interested in sponsoring the trip should contact Elaine on 830972.