Atomic Kitten will be among the performers

Organisers are hoping to attract 15,000 people to the MEN Arena in Manchester on 14 May to vote by text message for their favourite songs, raising money for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy.

Other acts will include Craig David, Girls Aloud, Liberty X, Mis-Teeq, Big Brovaz and boy band Busted.

Atomic Kitten singer Liz Hamilton said: "We are thrilled, not only because it's a brilliant line-up but also because everybody involved is helping to back some of the invaluable work music therapists do."

The charity hopes to use the money to set up a centre in the Manchester area.

Bandmate Jenny Frost added: "We've seen the great things that can be done with music and it's something that we really want to get involved in.

"To set up a centre will be great for us because it's near our home towns."

'Touched'

Blue singer Duncan James said he visited a Nordoff-Robbins centre to see how music therapy can be used to help both children and adults.

"What we saw really touched us in the way the charity can help and what the music can do," he said.

"It doesn't matter how disabled these people are, the fact that music can help really touched me."

Organisers are hoping to raise at least �500,000 on the night, with more from spin-offs such as CD and DVD sales.

They are also planning to make a donation to a war charity to help youngsters affected by military action.