Former Hot Press scribe and Killing Bono author Neil McCormick is hosting a star-studded charity event on Wednesday March 6, all in aid of Moxafrica.

The very special bill of acoustic performances will feature sets from Irish favourite David Gray, Austrailian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi, as well as the glorious harmonies of The Magic Numbers.

Buckshot Soup, Bo Bruce and David Ford will also play on the eclectic night, which takes place at the Islington Assembly Hall, London N1 2UD. Tickets are priced at £30 and can be purchased from [link]www.moxafrica.eventbrite.co.uk[/link] now.

Aside from all that musical goodness, a pair of Bono's sunglasses will be offered as a price in a very rock 'n' roll raffle, along with plenty of other music memorabilia.

Funds go to Moxafrica, a small UK registered charity running a medical research programme in Uganda investigating the treatment of TB with moxibustion, a form of Chinese medicine. It is having good results with potentially very wide ranging implications, especially in the developing world where second line drugs for treating drug resistant TB are simply too expensive.

According to Neil McCormick: “It is not a very sexy cause but they are good people doing important work and Moxafrica is going to die without urgent support. I am sometimes accused of following in Bono’s footsteps.

"Well, this is not Live Aid but the money we raise will keep Moxafrica going for another year and help make sure they complete their research. And what better way than to do it with music, so that we all have a good time for a good cause? I’ve asked some of my favourite musicians and I am looking forward to an amazing, never to be repeated evening. And I get to try on Bono’s sunglasses for size.”

According to Merlin Young (LicAc, MTA), co-founder of Moxafrica: “TB is epidemic in Africa, killing someone every 20 seconds. Incidence rates are rising and drug resistance is increasing with nothing in hand still to combat it. This is an unreported humanitarian disaster, striking at people too impoverished and marginalised to fight back. Moxafrica is investigating a non-pharmaceutical treatment that is cheap, unpatentable, and can be self-administered by patients.

"Pilot studies in Uganda and South Africa have shown very promising results but Moxafrica urgently needs funds to continue our research. The sums required to see this through are relatively small, a tiny investment for something with the potential to benefit millions of the world's neediest. Right now we need all the help we can get.” 

For more information visit [link]www.moxafrica.org[/link]