Hundreds of gig-goers packed a local venue in Douglas to spend nearly 12 hours dancing and singing to some of the island’s top bands, all in aid of a local charity.

The all-day ’Big Band-a-Thing’, organised to raise funds for Without Wings, the Manx autoimmune arthritis trust, featured 11 different solo artists and groups who got together last Saturday at Quids Inn, on Douglas Promenade.

The groups featured included the Fecktones, Dusty Plankton, rappers Han FX, JOR-DMC and the Innuendo Orchestra, the folk funk group Clash Vooar, industrial rock group Post War Stories, soul funk group the Last Drags, the Blue Vannin Jazz Club, Matt Kelly, the Paul Tonks Trio, Southern States, and Totally Rockabilly.

Throughout the day, an army of enthusiastic volunteers carried donation buckets and kept the party going.

The all-day concert eventually raised more than £1,300 for the charity.

Concert organiser Jackie Morrey-Grace, who also played with a number of the groups, said the event was a great success, and that she was grateful for all the support from the bands, who gave their time for free, and also to all the people who volunteered to help.

’I want to say a big thank you to all that were involved in the concert,’ said Jackie.

’We did it! The energy, atmosphere, quality and camaraderie on the day was beautiful.’

The sound for the day was provided by Showtech IOM, and Jackie also thanked Andy and the Quids Inn staff, the Shake Lounge, who donated the proceeds of their sandwich sales for the day and members of the Soundcheck youth music project for running the raffle, the top prize of which was donated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet.