A legendary British rock and pop group, who are returning to the Isle of Man this weekend, are set to use their concert to help raise funds and awareness for a local charity.

Squeeze will appear on stage at the Villa Marina tonight (Friday), as part of their latest UK tour, and singer, guitarist and song writer Glenn Tilbrook, along with his band mate Chris Difford, are using the opportunity to help campaign on behalf of food bank charities across the British Isles.

Throughout the tour, Glenn has encouraged Squeeze fans to support the UK charity, the Trussell Trust, which runs a network of food banks across the UK, and has asked people to donate non-perishable foods and other essential items at all venues, and has also recorded and released a solo acoustic EP, which is being sold during the tour, which will also raise funds.

During their island gig, there will be a collection for the Isle of Man Foodbank in the foyer of the Villa Marina.

Glenn was moved to support food banks after watching television documentaries about poverty in the UK, and felt the urge to use the group’s latest tour to help where he could.

’I watched a programme about food banks, and it really stayed with me,’ said Glenn.

’The grinding desperation of people who don’t have enough food to put on the table for their kids.

’I think there’s a demonisation of poor people that’s been going on too long, where they somehow seem as spongers if they don’t have enough money.

’I grew up in council housing and my parents can remember when being poor was an awful stigma.

’You had no help from the government, and we seem to be gradually wending our way back to that position.

’Anyone can end up in that situation and I’m ashamed that in 2019 our politicians can’t come up with a better solution.’

He took his opportunity to make a direct statement to the then-Prime Minister, David Cameron on live television, when he changed the lyrics to the song ’Cradle to the Grave’, singing: ’I grew up in council housing, part of what made Britain great.

’There are some here who are hellbent, on the destruction of the welfare state.’

He also points to many of the group’s songs , both new and old, which point to a theme of socially-aware song-writing .

’I think the politics of songs like "Labelled With Love" and "Up The Junction" were more personal, but coming from a similar place,’ he said.

’Honestly, I think that "Up The Junction" could be a Trussell Trust story, you know?"

Tickets for Squeeze are £35, and are available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety box office, and online from villagaiety.com

More information about the Isle of Man Foodbank is available by phoning 646999 or via www.isleofmanfoodbank.wordpress.com/