The Mind Cambridge World Mental Health Day Benefit at The Grapes in Cambridge was a resounding success.

Wow, what amazing sounds, headlined by Jonno’s Blues and Soul Quartet. We were totally bowled over by the talent and the turnout – it was epic, from start to late finish.

Folk and roots-based duo Ghost Carnival were first up, with Alex Machell on guitar and lead vocals, and Nicole Horst on drums, percussion and backing vocals. They delivered an engaging set of finely tuned and fabulously penned originals from their Saudi Shakes album – check that out on Bandcamp (geek alert, they even have cassettes!) Their songs explore love, loss, and shades of psychodrama, interspersed with sultry instrumentals, driven by rhythms inspired by Latin American and North African beats.

Our special guest, the legendary musician, poet and artist Max Bianco, showed up early and performed with another local star, guitarist John Wright; as well as solo, delivering his heartfelt and evocative repertoire with much of the crowd joining in with familiar choruses.

Max sprinkled the evening with extra creativity and characteristic generosity, sketching away and donating drawings with lyrics to the Mind Cambridge raffle, to one of our volunteers, as well as to the Fine Line Project – we are totally stoked about that.

The powerhouse that is Jonno Stanford was next on stage, effortlessly belting out a melodic selection of blues-tinted soul classics, and soulful blue numbers, all funked up by John Wright’s guitar and Lee Charles Phillips on bass. The high energy and supremely gifted Cambridge super group, Jonno’s Blues and Soul Quartet, was joined by another special guest, ace harmonica player Sandor Botos, for a handful of tracks. What a phenomenal band – book them for your next party. They totally blew the roof off The Grapes!

Our biggest thanks go to all the artists who so kindly performed on the night – we couldn’t have done it without you. Music was sponsored by our amazing hosts, Sandy and Tara at the Grapes. Massive thanks to them for donating so many prizes to the raffle too – it went on for a quite a while… there were many lucky winners. You can revisit some of the top prizes in our earlier post.

Local band videographer Roger Murfitt heroically braved the cold with a cough to film the entire event as a gift to us for Mind Cambridge. We’ll put some of those films out once we’ve had an opportunity to do a little bit of editing. We’re particularly grateful as none of the photographers we’d invited showed up – a first for us. Roger, your rock!

The Mind Cambridge team were there in force, and in good spirits, managing prizes, doors and raffle tickets, with The Fine Line Project’s wonderful new ticket sales volunteer, Lynn (you are so hired for the next one), and Igor who helped us out for a second year. You’re all brilliant, teamwork makes the dream work, gotta be said.

Mention is due to the fabulous crowd who pitched up on the night, with big thanks to The Wednesday Session fans – one of Cambridge’s best attended weekly music nights, currently at The Grapes, weekly. Numbers were swelled by friends of The Fine Line Project, Mind Cambridge and friends of friends of friends. Thanks to everyone who came and donated on the night.

Thanks to all of you we have raised a whopping £707 for Mind Cambridge with every penny going to support local mental health services.

Final thanks go to our style man Will Hill Design, who created our flyers and incredibly supportive printers Cambridge Printing.com who have helped us from day 1 in Cambridge – without your upfront work our promotional campaign and benefit gig wouldn’t be the talk of the town.

Here’s to community, creativity and mental health charities saving lives, thank you Cambridge, you certainly know how to roll! Until the next time (with way more exclamation marks than strictly necessary)…

Cheers for extra pics and footage Grace, Laila and Chrissie, and for help with flyers and promo Sara, Nicole and Gem – have we forgotten anyone? Let us know…