A POPULAR Darlington band is being joined onstage at a Middlesbrough concert by musicians from iconic eighties band The Specials.

The seven-piece Darlington-based Skapones have been together for a year and will play alongside guitarist Roddy Radiation and brass supremo Jon Read of The Specials when they perform at The Longlands Club, Marton Road, on Friday (April 3).

The concert has been organised as part of the Specialized project which raises money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Youth Music UK through ska and 2tone concerts across the country.

Paul Williams of Darlington works as a fan website administrator for The Specials and has previously organised Specialized concerts to raise money for charity.

He is also the lead singer of The Skapones and admitted that it would be “absolutely nerve-wracking” sharing the stage with such musical legends.

He added: “It will be a lot of fun though – if I drop dead on that stage I will be happy!”

Tickets for the concert, dubbed ‘A night of 2Tone and British Ska with a northern bite’ cost £5 on the door or £4 online.

They are available from www.wegottickets.com/event/292216 and the event kicks off at 7.30pm.

The Skapones will be back on home turf in Darlington on Friday April 10 at the Albert Hill WMC, Nestfield Street and tickets to that gig cost £3 from the venue.