TWO of John Peel’s favourite bands have been announced to play a fundraising concert for the creative arts centre named after him.

The Fall and The Undertones will be playing to help raise money for the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts in Stowmarket.

The news will be a big boost to the Peel Centre as it is looking for �100,000 of funding to complete the final stage of its �1.3million restoration project.

The veteran groups will be playing at a launch event for the John Peel Festival of New Music in October at Norwich’s Epic Studios.

The organisers of the festival have been working with John Peel’s widow, Sheila Ravenscroft, to help establish both the new venue and the event as a permanent legacy to the late DJ.

“We’ve been developing the new venue for some time in Stowmarket and it’s great that this is happening to give us some much need funds,” said Mrs Ravenscroft.

“I’m so pleased that The Fall and The Undertones have agreed to play as everybody knows that they were two bands very close to John’s heart and we should raise some money for the new venue. It’ll also be a great gig.”

The event will also feature another John Peel favourite – Norwich band Bearsuit – as well as up and coming group Dingus Khan. Undertones bass player Michael Bradley said: “It’s fairly obvious we owe a lot to John and it’s an honour to be asked to support the centre.”

The following three days of the festival will feature more than 50 new acts across 10 venues. Tickets for concert, which will take place on October 10 at 7.30pm, are available from 01603 660352 or www.norwichartscentre.co.uk