MERCURY Music Prize winner Badly Drawn Boy will appear at an event to celebrate the life and work of the Bard of Bolton.

The Friends Of Hovis Night — in honour of poet and stand-up comedian Hovis Presley — will be at Commerce House, Bridgeman Place, Bolton, on Saturday, June 27.

Known for his deadpan and Northern humour, he died 10 years ago at the age of 44 after a heart attack brought on by a viral infection.

Joining Badly Drawn Boy, real name Damon Gough who grew up in Breightmet, will be tribute band the Smiths Ltd and Manchester-based poet Thick Richard.

Organiser Paul Tatlock, of Little Lever, said: "Hovis was a bit of a mentor to Thick Richard.

"We are trying to keep it Bolton-centric.

"It's a celebration of Hovis and his work.

"The fact that he was always really good at getting people to come out for the night."

Hovis, born Richard McFarlane, attended Thornleigh Salesian College and started writing poems and sketches as a teenager but only ventured out onto the North West comedy circuit at the age of 29.

He frequently appeared on radio with John Shuttleworth and Mark Radcliffe but shunned the limelight, turning down a part offered to him by fellow Boltonian Peter Kay, in his Channel 4 series Phoenix Nights, for fear of being typecast.

In 1993, he published his only anthology of poetry, Poetic Off Licence, which was re-launched with a new commemorative edition at last month's Live From Worktown event — Bolton's festival of spoken word, music and performance.

Paul said: "The book, Poetic Off Licence, is back in print.

"Dave Morgan (chairman of Live from Worktown), who will be there on the night, has helped massively to get the book back in print."

The lyrical fundraiser, featuring DJs and poets as well as Ste Warwick who played guitar for Hovis, is being held in aid of homeless charity Shelter.

There will be craft beer available on the night.

Badly Drawn Boy and Thick Richard previously appeared at a tribute night to Hovis on November 21, 2005, at the Albert Halls in Bolton.

It was also attended by Johnny Vegas, Graham Fellows, Mark Radcliffe, Justin Moorhouse, Bernard Wrigley, Archie Kelly, Susan Vale, Phil Cool and Bob Williamson.

The Friends Of Hovis Night will be at Commerce House, Bridgeman Place, Bolton, on Saturday, June 27, at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £6 plus a 60p booking fee, visit wegottickets.com.