Andrew Marston introduces Merrymaker at Primrose Hospice

A Redditch group, featuring former members of Ocean Colour Scene, are releasing a charity single about their recently-departed friend while raising money for the hospice that cared for her.

Now, instead of inviting Merrymaker, from Astwood Bank, in for an interview - or simply playing their track - we decided to organise an extra special gig performing their new single to the patients at Primrose.

Adam Barry and Dan Sealey, who make up the band, were moved to write the song for Ona's family because of the impact she had on their lives: “When we told the family we wanted to do a charity single they asked straightaway if we could do it for Primrose Hospice.

"The family spoke so highly of everyone at Primrose. She was so young and such a great spirit and great support. It seemed like the natural thing to do really."

Evergreen is the lead single taken from the band’s EP which was released earlier this month.

• All of our studio and festival sessions since 2005

Creation Records boss Alan McGee, from Hay-on-Wye, reveals a selection of his all-time favourite discoveries.

Alan, along with Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder, present a blistering playlist of indie, punk and ska classics from Buzzcocks to The Specials, Junior Murvin to Marc Bolan, Orange Juice to Underworld and many more.

• Watch now

A Worcestershire band, inspired by Stourport songwriter Clifford T. Ward, has gone on tour with a string quartet at the blessing of his family.

Robinson-Stone have been paying homage to the incredible back catalogue of the musician who was once voted above the Beatles as one of England's finest-ever songwriters.

The band performed at the Artrix last night and say orchestrating the string section has been painstaking as they've had to score everything themselves.

• A local history of great gigs and musical legends

The widow of Kidderminster's 'Mr Music Man' has been continuing his legacy with a charity show in aid of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Sandy Wakefield said raising money for the cause was something her beloved husband Ken was firmly dedicated to and staged a music and variety Christmas show at the Gainsborough Hotel in Kidderminster last night.

Former footballer and committed charity worker Ken died in January 2017, having suffered an aortic aneurysm, at the age of 69.

He was affectionately known as Mr Music Man and drew a huge amount of love and respect through the charity shows he and his wife arranged for charity.

Sandy put on a sell-out show for the cause at the Gainsborough Hotel in December last year as a tribute to her husband, who had begun organising the event before he died.

She said the show was a fitting farewell to Ken and hadn’t planned on doing anymore but had been convinced to continue his work by his many friends: “Ken is still hugely missed by us all. People who knew him still stop me in the street and talk about him.

“The memorial show last year was wonderful. I had a huge photograph unveiled on stage and there was an audible gasp in the audience before everyone gave him a standing ovation. It was very emotional. “Our shows have always been successful but I wasn’t planning on doing anymore until people started urging me to do so. “So I have decided to continue Ken’s legacy and support the charity as he would have wanted to keep on doing.”

• The interviews you may have missed on the radio

Our next recording session will take place on Sunday, 2 December at Gordon Bennett's in Hereford.

We're bringing along handpicked musicians from Herefordshire and Worcestershire to record their live sessions for broadcast.

They've all uploaded their tracks to the BBC Music Introducing Uploader - but didn't know they were being considered for this incredible opportunity!

This free event, which is open to everybody, kicks off at 1pm and you're more than welcome to turn up anytime until 5pm.

• Details about the event