Bands join forces for fund-raiser

Jun 2 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

ROOTS rockers Southpaw and Wang Dang Delta are lending their support to a young Perth woman’s conservation efforts in south-east Asia.

The Perth bands have organised a fund-raising gig for a Raleigh International trip to Malaysia being undertaken by Amy Harcus, daughter of WDD’s harmonica wizard Jim Harcus.

Part-time supermarket worker Amy (21) plans to fulfil a long-held ambition by spending three months carrying out voluntary work on Borneo, the third largest island in the world.

Wang Dang’s Ian McLaren told Music Scene that both outfits were delighted to be supporting the fund-raising effort at the Fair City’s Grampian Hotel.

“We hope that as well as barnstorming sets from each of us, the opportunity might present itself for some interesting cross collaborations,” he said.

“The bands are close friends off-stage, and whilst we plough different musical furrows, there’s a general rootsiness which both bands have in common.

“It’s shaping up to be a great night.”

Raleigh first began working in Malaysia in 1987, and has been running programmes in Sabah, North Borneo, since 2003.

Its projects enable young people to help protect Borneo’s wild conservation areas and its varied ethnic communities.

Saturday’s gig in the Grampian Hotel starts at 8pm. Tickets, priced £6.50, are available from Bandwagon Music, St Pauls Square, Perth, or by calling 01738 637714.