Neville Staple to perform one-off charity gig

Neville Staple cancelled all of his live shows in January 2024

The Specials singer Neville Staple is returning to the stage for a one-off performance at a charity gala in Birmingham next month.

Last year the Coventry frontman was diagnosed with a serious heart defect, for which he was advised to take a complete rest from live performing.

The gala will raise funds for Acorn Children's Hospice, which has sites in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and provides palliative care for families with children with life-limiting illnesses.

It will celebrate the drama series This Town, which focuses on the music scene in the 70s and 80s in Birmingham and Coventry.

The evening will see guests experience a journey through 1980s Birmingham, the hospice said, with entertainment, live music and fine dining.

Staple will round off the gala dinner with a headline performance.

Supporting the event is Steven Knight, creator and writer of Peaky Blinders, who also created and wrote This Town, and grew up in Birmingham.

Steven Knight, who created This Town, is a patron of the hospice

Knight is a patron of the hospice, and the gala will also be supported by Kudos, the production company behind the series.

Other local guests include Birmingham-born comedian, actress, and writer Shazia Mirza, who will host the event, and the city's Poet Laureate 2020-2022, Casey Bailey.

"We are thrilled to have such an extraordinary line-up of local talent, led by none other than ska legend Neville Staple," said Trevor Johnson, chief executive of the hospice charity.

"But amidst the style and glamour, it is important to remember that at the heart of this truly special event are the children and families we support.

"This night is for them and will enable us to continue to provide the care and support they can't get anywhere else."

It will be held at Birmingham's International Convention Centre on 28 February.