Music concert raises the roof and cash for Hartlepool United

The Studio, in Tower Street, was bouncing on Saturday night for a special Save Pools Day concert.

It sought to build on the support for Pools' financial plight following on from the Wrexham game earlier in the day when a sell-out home crowd packed into Victoria Park.

The gig saw top performances from local acts with the line up featuring The White Negroes, town sister duo Liv 'n' G, bluesy-rockers The Endeavours, singer-songwriter Mickey Gallagher and DJ Fake Charles.

Brian Barnes from The Studio said: "It was brilliant, probably the busiest night in the Studio's 20-year history.

"We made just shy of £1,000 which we are going to make up for the fund.

"All of the acts went down well, they all brought their own crowds and clientele and mixed well together.

"There was a lot of people who had been to the match that came."

The granddad of Liv 'n' G's Olivia Crawford and Georgia Fletcher, Jack Howe, played for Hartlepool United in the 1930s and also won three caps for England in the 1940s.

The football theme was also on display as members of The White Negroes wore classic, old Pools shirts and waved scarves on stage.

Ian Monaghan, lead singer of The White Negroes said: "The game was quite an occasion and emotional too and that certainly carried over onto the gig on the evening.

"It was great to see such a big crowd come along to The Studio to support the cause and listen to and enjoy all the acts on the night.

"Everyone was absolutely in the spirit and up for it on the night and, for us, it's been one of the best and more memorable gigs we've played for a wee while.

"Never Say Die!"

The concert was just one of a host of fundraisers by the local community as part of efforts to help Hartlepool United out of its current financial crisis while it looks for a new owner.