Singing for the Scanner Appeal

Benron features BBC Radio Sheffield's Seth Bennett and Iain Hodgson, plus Steelers player Rod Sarich

Seth Bennett is best known as BBC Radio Sheffield's voice of sport, but he has another talent - and he's using it to raise money for the BBC Sheffield Kids' Scanner Appeal .

On Tuesday 24th November from 7pm, Seth's band Benron are playing a gig to raise money for the charity and there will be some big sporting names on stage.

The gig takes place at the Boardwalk in Sheffield and you can get tickets for £5 by emailing [e-mail]

Seth Bennett on stage at the City Hall in 2008

Seth Bennett's connections in the sporting world mean that Benron have had special guest vocalists in the past. Former boxing world champion Johnny Nelson and former Superbike world champion James Toseland, plus a number of our county's football managers, have all sung for the band before.

The gig on 24th November will be no different. Special guests are already confirmed, including swing singer Paul Pashley and Sheffield Steelers duo Kevin Bolibruck and Scott Basiuk.

Benron will be supported by the Everly Pregnant Brothers which features Sheffield cartoon artist Pete McKee and BBC Radio Sheffield's own Toby Foster.

The duo are throwing their weight behind the BBC Sheffield Kids' Scanner Appeal, playing a series of covers on their ukuleles - not to be missed!

Benron play covers and party tunes which take you on a journey from Van Morrison to the Commitments to the Darkness. "We play songs that we like and they're usually ones people know and like to sing along to," said Seth.

Superbike champion James Toseland performed with Benron in 2007

"As soon as I knew that BBC Radio Sheffield would be raising money for the Children's Hospital in Sheffield, I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to put together a special night. We headlined a gig last year for the charity and the guys in the band were really excited when I asked if they'd be interested in doing it again.

"I have a long association with the hospital, having had a number of broken bones when I was growing up from my various sporting pursuits! So any time I can raise a few quid for them, I will!"

Benron and Bryan Adams

Benron have been together in various forms for five years. Last year they played at a sold-out City Hall last Christmas alongside Sheffield songwriter and producer Eliot Kennedy, in a show which included rock legend Bryan Adams and comedian Peter Kay.

Rod Sarich, of Benron and the Sheffield Steelers, was awestruck when he played on the same stage as Bryan Adams:

"It was a surreal night. Growing up in Canada, Bryan Adams is a king. He's the biggest music star the country has ever produced so getting to play on the same stage as him was amazing. We had a fantastic night and really enjoyed playing to such a fantastic crowd.

"I'm used to playing in front of big crowds every night at the ice hockey, but this is very different. Playing guitar is something I really enjoy and it's great to be able to do it for a good cause like the BBC Sheffield Kids' Scanner Appeal. I hope that people will come out and help us raise as much money as possible on the 24th."

Sheffield Steelers guitar playing defenceman Rod Sarich

BBC Radio Sheffield's Raw Talent presenter Iain Hodgson is Benron's drummer and admits that playing in a covers band is his guilty pleasure: "I spend so much time listening to new music - it's great. But when Seth asked me to join Benron and play a few well-known classics, I couldn't say no!

"The Boardwalk is one Sheffield's best live music venues and it helps break some of the Steel City's best acts. The Arctic Monkey's have played there before they became famous, so for us it will be fantastic to be on stage at such a prestigious place."

Over the last few years Benron have raised £10,000 for various charities and in 2009 they hope to raise a significant amount for the BBC Sheffield Kids' Scanner Appeal.

Tickets are £5 and can be purchased in advance by emailing [e-mail]. Visit the website for more information.