groovetrain's Big Night Out

Cash for Kids is proud to announce a special fundraising evening this festive season with multi-vocal fusion supergroup, groovetrain and special guest and social media sensation Sonny Tennet! All money raised will be split between the Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal, and CHUF & Nordoff and Robbins to support their work in the Freeman Hospital with music therapy for children in the unit.

Joining the bill is Sonny Tennet, a gifted 25-year-old singer songwriter from South Shields blessed with old school soul. His acoustic performances and recordings have amassed over 70 million streams on Spotify and 8 million likes on TikTok, building an audience of over 1 million followers and subscribers across social media. Recent touring and recording commitments in the UK and US, plus airplay of his recent singles by BBC Radio 1, have built his profile even further - with his star expected to reach new heights in the UK and US in 2025.

groovetrain is made up of a collective of touring and session musicians with Northern Souls. The group have performed with a number of colourful special guests including Sam Fender saxman Johnny Blue Hat Davis, The Hairy Bikers’ Si King’ on percussion and on vocals Broadway and West End stars Ryan Molloy, Chelsea Halfpenny and Jill Halfpenny as well as TV and podcast star Rosie Ramsey… amongst others!

With a major following and regular sold-out gigs (including at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Cluny and Hoochie Coochie in the region), groovetrain have wowed audiences at top venues and festivals across the UK with filthy basslines and virtuoso brass, guitar and keys. The group have performed alongside the likes of Ella Henderson, Incognito, Andy Taylor (Duran Duran), Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, Huey Morgan, Gabrielle, De La Soul, Squeeze, The Real Thing, Brother Strut and more. At last year’s Cash for Kids show they performed with the legendary John Parr (St Elmo’s Fire)!

Cash for Kids Mission Christmas

The Cash for Kids Mission Christmas appeal aims to ensure that every child living in poverty wakes up to a gift on Christmas Day. In 2023, the charity provided gifts for 41,356 children who would potentially wake up to nothing on 25th December. It is only through the generosity of supporters in the North East that Cash for Kids can bring the magic of the festive season to those in our community who are really struggling. Often the families who approach the charity for help have nowhere else to turn.

CHUF

Chuf supports babies and children with heart conditions from the moment they require specialist care, primarily at the at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, but also across 6 district hospitals in the North of England.

 The Children’s Heart Unit is 1 of only 2 paediatric heart transplant units in the UK and is the only place in Britain equipped for the most complex cases; treating over 4,000 Heart Heroes per year. Chuf raises funds for vitally needed services that are far beyond NHS means, to ensure that Heart Heroes and the teams that care for them have access to the things they need, when it matters most.

 Chuf’s charitable activities go beyond simply providing medical equipment and specialist staffing; we deliver holistic care to Heart families. From practical support with emergency accommodation, to socially enriching experiences with music and play therapists-offering opportunities that allow them to have a better journey, creating positive memories and enabling children to develop their skills & realise their fullest potential. Because the little things really do matter. Chuf is for Hearts, for families, for life.

Nordoff and Robbins

Sir Graham Wylie Foundation built the dedicated Music Therapy Centre in Newcastle in 2016 for Nordoff and Robbins, it was officially opened by Sting in 2017. Since then, the centre has gone from strength to strength and the music therapists deliver free life transforming therapy six days a week from here. Furthermore, the centre has trained over 90 musicians to become music therapists, supporting children at schools, community centres, and home across the North East region. 'We’ve all felt music’s potency, how it unlocks feelings and memories and brings us together. It’s a universal language, a mode of communication. Imagine if music alone gave you the power to communicate. Then imagine a life without music.'

 Age limits: Over 14s with a responsible adult last year