FANS of grizzled Canadian rocker Neil Young will be pleased to hear that the big man s premiere tribute act will be making its first appearance in Cambridge next week. Don t Spook the Horse will be at The Junction, Clifton Road, Cambridge on Thursday, Ju

FANS of grizzled Canadian rocker Neil Young will be pleased to hear that the big man's premiere tribute act will be making its first appearance in Cambridge next week.

Don't Spook the Horse will be at The Junction, Clifton Road, Cambridge on Thursday, June 15, for a special one-off benefit gig for The Arts Therapies Department of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mental Health NHS Trust.

The band, based in Norfolk, got together through a mutual love of Neil Young's work.

"I'd just done a gig with a friend of mine, Brian Eade," said guitarist Mark Fawcett.

"On our journey back up to Norfolk, listening to Tonight's the Night, we got into thinking what a shame it was that we couldn't go out and just play tunes by Neil Young.

"We realised we could, and that Brian looks a bit like Neil."

Humble beginnings at local pubs quickly escalated to larger performances, and the group has expanded its line-up from its principle members, who played acoustic material such as Old Man and Heart of Gold, to take on a full band.

The group now aim to reproduce the full Crazy Horse experience on songs such as Rockin' in the Free World, and have earned the respect of big Neil's loyal fans.

"People travelled from London insisting that we get ourselves down there," said Mark.

"We complied by headlining a convention for the great man organised by the UK fanclub - we've been asked back again this year to finish the weekend off."

The band now intend to take their show to a wider audience, including the Junction gig next Thursday.

The benefit gig is a show of solidarity for the band for a subject that is close to bass player John Preston's heart - he has worked as a music therapist at Fulbourn Hospital for the last five years.

Arts therapies is a small group of creative therapists, who work with adults with mental health problems using music, drama and dance.

The aim is to help patients access their creative potential, to help move away from the revolving door of relapse and re-admission to hospital. In more extreme cases, this kind of therapy can help people who do not respond well to prescribed interventions.

INFORMATION: Tickets for the gig, priced £10, are available on 01223 511 511.

Tickets will also be available on the door, priced £12.

The gig starts at 7.30pm.