MUSIC lovers from across the town gathered at Bolton pub on Easter Sunday, for a day of alternative rock and metal to help battle homelessness.

The Big Alma Homeless Aid Benefit saw 14 bands from a range of genres including indie-rock and death metal take to the stage to raise funds and awareness for Bolton-based Homeless Aid UK.

Organised by Rawkus, the gig raised over £1000 for the charity, which works at grass-roots level across the region to provide support and services to homeless people, as well as food parcels to those living in poverty.

Jed Saint, director of live music at Rawkus Events, said: “The issue of homelessness is one that seems to have become closer to home in recent years.

“But where there’s a person or family needing a helping hand, a hearty meal or help to find shelter it’s a great comfort to know there are people like Bolton’s own Homeless Aid UK team somewhere on the periphery with a smile.”

“It’s for this reason that the Rawkus Events team and the Alma Inn staff got our heads together to see how we could help them enact change in these local people’s lives.

“The end result, what else but what we do best? An all-day music festival featuring the best and brightest bands from the breadth of the North-West’s Alternative scene. 14 bands. One day. One stage.”

The day boasted a stellar line-up, featuring performances from Footprints In The Custard, Twisted Illusion, BloodYard, Faith in Glory, Isolate, Till the Fall, Vulture Cult, Inhabit , Aftermath Eternal, Dischord, Native Wasteland, Mirror, Voodoo Blood, and The Last Dregs.

Alma Inn landlord, James Woolley, said: “What a fantastic day. Great music, lovely people and a nice chunk of cash for a worthy cause. We’re all shattered but it’s well worth it.”