Swing and pop hits will be performed by Walsall band The Doorknobs in aid of afterschool club

The Doorknobs founders Glyn and Sylvia Barratt will be joined by several relatives and friends when they strike up in aid of the town's The Hothouse centre. The concert featuring music from swing and jazz classics to Michael Jackson hits will be held Aldridge Parish Church on The Green on Friday at 7.30pm. 

"We're performing on Friday at Aldridge Parish Church in aid of the Hothouse which is a church outreach on the Redhouse Estate. We're an 18-piece band and we're made up of, mainly believe it or not family, and lots of good friends. We're all musicians in the family and my wife played professionally. 

 "We perform locally around the Midlands raising money for various charities. We have a strange name, The Doorknobs, that originally came from the fact we were raising money to buy doorknobs for our new church rooms 10 years ago and it's stuck since then. 

"It all started as a one-off really. We borrowed some music from a local school and held one rehearsal and raised £2,500 and it just took off from there. 

"People booked us up for wedding anniversaries and charity shows all over the place including in Stafford and Burton on Trent 

"There's my brother who lives in north Wales and our three children, some of the grandchildren and friends who are in the band. So we hope to see you there on February 28. There are a few tickets left," Glyn, aged 74, says.

"The funny things was that when the new parish centre was completed all the doors had handles. There were no doorknobs in sight," he adds.

The Hothouse team carry out pastoral visits, organise uniform and food banks, as well as host activities with the help of four paid staff and about 10 volunteers at the centre in Myatt Avenue. 

These include informal Sunday worship at 4pm; Wednesday drop-in including lunch from 9am-midday; on Thursday parents and toddlers from 9.30am-11am; then free hot chocolate 3pm-4pm; followed by youth club from 6.30pm-8pm.

Team leader Amie Iddon, who has started helping at Hothouse eight years ago, explains: "We rely on grant funding and The Doorknobs are putting on the show to raise money for The Hothouse. We are keen to start an afterschool club after Easter, so some of the money from the concert will going towards that specific project."

Tickets cost £10 per person and include refreshments. There will also be an auction and a quiz at the social night which will start at 7.30pm at the main church building in The Green in Aldridge.