ANDY Burrows, former drummer from indie rock band Razorlight, played an intimate festive gig for 180 people in Winchester.

In what came as a complete surprise to the audience, he was joined on stage by platinum selling artist, Tom Odell.

The event took place in a vacant warehouse in Winnall Trading Estate and was raising money for local hospices Naomi House and Jacksplace.

The warehouse was decorated with festoon lights and Christmas trees, with a bar serving hot drinks from Coffee Lab and beer from Red Cat Brewery.

Ollie Wade, 24 year old musician from Winchester, warmed up the crowd and opened the show with a medley of his own songs and Christmas covers. Naomi House and Jacksplace cared for Ollie’s brother, Ben, and Ollie has been a regular supporter of the hospices since.

Andy went on to perform hits from Razorlight and Smith & Burrows, before playing family favourites from Christmas animation, The Snowman & The Snowdog, including ‘Light The Night’.

After the interval, Burrows’ close friend, Tom Odell, made a surprise appearance on stage and the pair played a fast-paced medley of Razorlight hits and Christmas classics, as well as a moving solo rendition of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.

Andy Burrows said: “I’m so happy to be back in my home town of Winchester, playing a gig for a charity that is very close to my heart. I absolutely love Naomi House – I visited the hospices a few years back and it really is a special place that does extraordinary things. When I visited the hospices nearly a decade ago I met Ollie! We played a few tunes together and really hit it off, so it’s great to see him again.”

Lucy Gray, Regional Fundraiser for Naomi House & Jacksplace said: “We want to thank Andy, Ollie and Tom for taking time out of their busy festive schedules to support us. It truly was an incredible night and raised thousands of pounds to enable our charity to care for life limited children, young adults and families this Christmas. We couldn’t have done it without a whole host of supporters who provided everything we needed, the venue, staging, PA, food and beer, completely free of charge.”

Andy Burrows is no stranger to Naomi House & Jacksplace, having fronted the charity’s Jacksplace appeal and helped raise the money needed to build the south’s only dedicated hospice for young adults 10 years ago.

Naomi House & Jacksplace hospices provide respite, emergency, end of life and bereavement support to hundreds of children and young adults with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions in Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight. The hospices, located near Winchester, offer 24 hour care to the region’s most medically vulnerable youngsters.

Photos: JLawrence Photography