A POPULAR covers band are playing a fund-raising gig in aid of an international medical charity.

The M5, a local covers band, are on the road and set to play a gig at the OCC in Malvern on May 17 in support of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

The band, known for their vibrant renditions of classics by Talking Heads, Primal Scream, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, and other icons of the genre, are raising funds for MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders.

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international, independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflicts, epidemics, natural disasters, and exclusion from healthcare.

The band named themselves after the M5 because all five members of the band live in Worcestershire or Gloucestershire, within a 15-minute drive of the motorway, and all the good band names they came up with previously had already been taken.

Two of the members of the band, guitarist Alan Davies and drummer Morris Windsor, used to play in the 1970s cult rock band The Soft Boys. Morris still drums with Robyn Hitchcock, the singer-songwriter who used to front The Soft Boys.  

The bassist with the band, Colin Warren, who lives in Malvern, said “We all love playing live and we thought it would be a great idea to try and raise some cash for MSF, which is doing incredible work in conflict zones around the world.”

So what can people expect at the OCC, Church Street, Malvern on 17th May?

Colin said “We’ll be playing an eclectic mix of songs. Most of the set hails from the 70s, 80s and 90s, but we have been known to play the occasional Harry Styles tune when we are feeling particularly spritely.”

“For the price of a cappuccino and a slice of carrot cake, gig-goers can enjoy an evening of great music while also helping to fund essential medical services for people in crisis”.

The band named themselves after the M5 because all five members of the band live in Worcestershire or Gloucestershire, within a 15-minute drive of the motorway, and all the good band names they came up with previously had already been taken.

The music will get underway at 8.30pm. Tickets can be bought in advance via the OCC website at https://www.occ-malvern.co.uk/m5. Tickets are £5 in advance, £7.50 on the door.