Six of the finest local bands performed at a special concert on Sunday evening to help save the St Ives Corn Exchange. The venue is under threat, and as a result the fundraising concert, organised by ACE (Action for Corn Exchange), was arranged to raise

Six of the finest local bands performed at a special concert on Sunday evening to help save the St Ives Corn Exchange.

The venue is under threat, and as a result the fundraising concert, organised by ACE (Action for Corn Exchange), was arranged to raise awareness.

And awareness certainly seemed to be raised in a packed night at the Golden Lion with the evening opening with the loose, jaunty, Libertines-influenced punk rock of Cambridge band The Cougars, who seem to be becoming regulars on the St Ives music scene, and their performance was well received.

The energetic vibe was continued thanks to a rousing set from crowd favourites Shot 2 Nothing, before calming down with the soulful sounds of solo artist Barry Denston.

Audiences warmed strongly to Denston, who was clearly enjoying himself performing acoustic numbers by the likes of Britney Spears and McFly.

My band, Under The Streetlamp, was next up. The quick changeovers in between bands lead to a very unpredictable and exciting vibe on stage, and our half-hour set of piano-led pop seemed to fly by.

The evening concluded with sets from two of the most established St Ives acts, acoustic singer/guitarist Matt Harvey, and then rock band Solvent UK.

All in all, an eclectic night showcasing a variety of musical talent in front of a big audience. I'm not sure if I've ever seen St Ives this lively on a Sunday night, and this event has certainly succeeded in its bid to raise awareness regarding the potential selling-off of the Corn Exchange.

RICHARD PAUL