A BIG band from Basingstoke will be holding an evening of great music at a Whitchurch school to raise funds for the Hampshire air ambulance.

The Clive Fortune Big Band, previously known as Basingstoke Concert Big Band, was formed in January 2009 by Clive Fortune and will be holding an event on Saturday, September 9 at Testbourne Community School.

The audience will be able to bring their own nibbles to the musical event, which starts at 7.3 pm. There will be a bar serving drinks, with profits after costs being donated to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

READ MORE: Police called after car meet at Basingstoke supermarket car park

The event will be a seated, cafe style with chairs around large tables, but there will still be space for people to dance should they wish to.

The event is expected to run for around three hours, finishing at about 10.30pm.

Andover Advertiser: Clive Fortune Big Band mid performanceClive Fortune Big Band mid performance (Image: Clive Fortune Big Band, Canva)

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance will also be in attendance and will be bringing its helicopter simulator so audience members can try their hand at flying.

SEE ALSO: Award-winning pub closing its doors due to rising costs

The band normally performs with 18 musicians and two singers, but have the addition of the Tonyx this time. The Tonyx are a female barbershop quartet. Tickets cost £15 for adults, with children able to enter for £8.

Saxophonist Martin Frith said: "We tend to do charity work, with organisations such as Save the Children, so we're always on the lookout for events that we can play at and raise some much-needed funds for a variety of worthy causes, in this instance the air ambulance.

"The air ambulance relies solely on donations to keep running and doing their good work, and we are only too happy to be able to play our part."

More information on the band can be found at bcbigband.org.uk, while tickets for the event can be purchased at ticketlab.co.uk/series/id/860.