A star-studded concert launched by an Ipswich cancer survivor is set to wow fans in aid of cancer charities tomorrow night.

East Anglian Daily Times: Gareth Grayston is launching a concert with a host of big names for Stand Up to Cancer. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNGareth Grayston is launching a concert with a host of big names for Stand Up to Cancer. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

The all-singing, all-dancing event – organised by Gareth Grayston, whose traumatic battle with the bowel cancer forced him to have part of his bladder removed – will take place at the John Peel Centre in Stowmarket.

Mr Grayston’s band Diamond will headline alongside a host of new talent including Jessica Richardson of ITV’s The Voice Kids, London-based solo singer James Harper and Essex girl band D’LuXE.

The concert will kick off at 7.30pm tomorrow.

He said: “We are really excited. We put on another concert in 2015 at the Ipswich Corn Exchange and this time it’s going to bigger and better.

“The John Peel Centre is a great venue which is made for live music and we have some great support acts. They are actually more like special guests.”

The 36-year-old was dealt a devastating blow by medics in 2009 when he was told he had bowel cancer that had spread to his bladder.

But, it was following his recovery that his mental health began to suffer.

He formed Diamond in 2013 in a bid to use music as therapy, and now he is putting on a glittering performance with some of the biggest up-and-coming artists, all in aid of cancer charities.

Mr Grayston said: “It was traumatic. It took a real toll and strain on me, I think I had been focusing so much on the physical pain that afterwards it just hit me.

“Everyone was so supportive but I just fell into this kind of pit that I thought I might never get out of.

“Afterwards, the mental side of things was what I really struggled with. I turned to music as therapy, I’d always enjoyed singing.

“We formed Diamond back in 2013, and since then we’ve performed at countless gigs.”

Supported by Cancer Research UK, ticket sales and on-the-night donations are set to collect several thousands of pounds for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign.

Tickets can be purchased from the John Peel box office and online at this link.