Some of Suffolk’s finest musicians have given their time away for free to record an album in support of a high-profile cause.

Songwriters, bands and solo artists have recorded 18 original tracks of acoustic music for Suffolk Family Carers’ ‘8 Days a Week’ appeal.

The campaign, led by BBC Radio Suffolk and supported by the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, seeks to buy and run a mobile support vehicle over two years for carers often working in isolated communities.

Carl Scott, 49, from Stonham Aspal, is behind the Suffolk Acoustic Showcase which promotes musicians from the county.

He said he wanted to work on a charity compilation album after being inspired to highlight the county’s musical talent.

“I thought the recording, as it was over two days, would be tough but everybody came on and set up and nailed it,” he said.

“So many were done in one take, it’s not a full-on studio production, the musicians came in and did a live recording.

“The way it was recorded was like the old-fashioned way in the 1960s.

“The key thing is for people to go to the website now and find out where they can buy it.”

Recorded at BBC Radio Suffolk’s studios in Ipswich with support from DJ Stephen Foster, the CD is to be officially launched on Thursday at the John Peel Centre for Creative Arts in Stowmarket from 7.30pm.

Mr Scott added: “We managed to get enough local businesses to pay for the production of the CD, the only cost has been buying the CDs and covers.

“The guy duplicating them is doing it for nothing as well as all of the musicians.

“Everything that we get for selling the CD goes straight to Suffolk Family Carers.”

At the free launch party many of the acts on the CD will be performing live. The group has set a target of raising more than £4,000.

The CD will be available from the website www.suffolkacousticshowcase.co.uk, Suffolk Family Carers’ site and the West End Music shop in Ipswich.

The Suffolk Family Carers’ 8 Days a Week appeal hit the £100,000 mark last month.