A LOCAL rock band that features Hampshire Cricket Club chairman Rod Bransgrove is staging a star-studded charity gala show at the Ageas Bowl tonight.

And they are joined by comedian and folk singer Richard Digance.

The Bafta-nominated funnyman’s glittering career has been acknowledged through numerous awards within both the music and entertainment industries with a Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters his highest accolade.

Tonight’s event was originally organised to celebrate the launch of the new EP Kick Me When I’m Down by Rod Bransgrove’s band Strapped for Cash.

Sales of the single – and publicity for this fundraising event, have received an added boost after Alex Dyke on BBC Radio Solent made Kick me When I’m Down his single of the week, playing it every day this week.

The event is being staged for the benefit of Hampshire Cricket in the Community (HCitC), the charitable trust established by Hampshire Cricket for the benefit of deserving causes in the county’s catchment area.

Already, the trust has established its own learning centre, the Orbit, which attracted more than 1,000 children and youths to its sport-related learning programmes in 2014.

The trust also plans to reach out to more than 5,000 young people over the next year and has assisted in the establishment of the Poseidon Boxing Club at the Ageas Bowl, now boasting in excess of 500 members.

Legendary England and Hampshire cricketer and TV commentator David Gower, who is president of HCitC, will attend tonight’s gala, along with a number of local sports and media celebrities such as Southampton Football club legend Matt le Tissier and BBC South Today presenter Sally Taylor.

Daily Echo:

The new EP from Strapped for Cash includes four songs, including two versions of the title track, an original song written by Rod, called Kick Me When I’m Down and Kick Me When I’m Down (More Kicks).

The band will play the latter, extended version as well as the two cover tracks included on the record, All the Young Dudes, a 1970s David Bowie classic recorded by Mott the Hoople, plus Stephen Stills’ anthemic Love the One You’re With.

Strapped for Cash was borne out of a strong friendship between Rod and Sean McMenemy, son of former Saints manager Lawrie.

The pair had played together since 2010 as a scratch band at private parties with accomplished local guitarist, Tim Payne, and drummer, Chris Pope.

When the four played together at a charity night for Wessex Heartbeat in 2012 they shared the billing with local soul and blues specialists Rufus Stone, whose vocalist Malc Eyres expressed an interest in joining in the fun.

Solly Read, another long-time member of Rufus Stone then joined on bass and the six-piece band was complete.

Strapped for Cash made their debut at Southampton’s Platform Tavern in June 2013 to an enthusiastic response, and success continued in the August when they played live at the Ageas Bowl.

Tonight’s gala is an opportunity to bring many of the band’s friends and supporters together for a good cause.