MUSIC fans are being offered the chance to celebrate the coming of spring and help Wallingford’s volunteer-run Corn Exchange theatre at the same time.

This Saturday, the audience will be treated to rock and roll, swing music and comedy to raise money for the building’s maintenance, with the facade and the roof being the main priorities.

Local comic songwriter Pete Orton will be taking to the stage with swing era devotees Gin Swing, rock-pop outfit The Joint is Jumping and the band The Gangbusters.

Many of the performers have strong connections with the Corn Exchange through the town-based drama group Sinodun Players either as performers, directors, writers, musicians, producers and supporters.

The show starts at 7.45pm and the artists are donating their time to help the theatre.

Show producer and band member, Mike Rowbottom, said: “We hope this will be a bit of a party for everyone.

“We put on a show with some proven musicians – we all play regularly for parties, festivals and anniversaries – and at the same time put some money into the Corn Exchange.

“It’s a unique facility in the town and takes a lot of work to keep it running – but we might as well have fun at the same time, that’s why we do it in the first place, after all.”

Tickets for the show are £9 and are available from the Corn Exchange box office in person, online at the theatre’s website www.cornexchange.org.uk or on the door.