Bands will be taking to the stage at a Wantage park next month to raise funds for a local youth centre.

The annual Sweatbox Rock in the Park event at the Manor Road recreation ground will feature two days of live music, showcasing the best of local pop, rock, blues and country music talent, plus a range of stalls, entertainments and food.

As well as celebrating the thriving local music scene and putting on a fun and friendly community event, it also raises funds for the Sweatbox youth club, based at King Alfred’s Academy in Springfield Road.

Youngsters from the club organise Rock in the Park in association with White Hart Music Management, founded by voluntary youth worker Beth Costar, who is a former member of Sweatbox.

Beth said: “With a strictly local line-up this year, we celebrate local musical talent of all ages and levels of experience.

“It’s set to be a wonderful community event yet again and we urge you to come along with family and friends, bring a picnic and celebrate our great community together, while raising funds for an amazing local youth organisation.” Rock in the Park promises a variety of acts, including much-loved rockers Growler, acoustic folk sets from Dave Oakes and Reuben’s Rocket, the gentlemen of boogie Thunderbird and a headline set by newly appointed Sweatbox music worker Eloise Rees, who last year performed at the Americana Music Awards in Nashville.

It will be held on Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12, with performances running from noon until 7pm each day.

Funds raised will go to the Sweatbox, which had been threatened with closure because of Oxfordshire County Council budget cuts in 2011, but was rescued by King Alfred’s Academy with support from Grove Parish Council, Wantage Town Council and local well-wishers.

For further information about Rock in the Park, plus the acts, see the Facebook ages of Sweatbox or White Hart Music (Wantage).

Local groups interested in taking a stall at event, should contact youth work manager Garry Kingett at gkingett@kaacademy.org or 01235 225700 extension 2690.