BLACK Country grunge rockers WEAK13 will be headlining a fundraiser this week to help save Dudley Hippodrome.

The band three-piece outfit, who recently released new single Go Away ahead of a planned summer album launch, will be taking to the stage at JBs tomorrow (Friday January 25) along with fellow Midlands bands Birthrite, Abigail’s Mercy and Primer, Kumari 7, The Project and Hyperreality.

Money raised from the event will go towards the campaign to save Dudley Hippodrome which has been earmarked for demolition to make way for a temporary new car park.

Weak 13 frontman Nick J.Townsend said: “It’s a wonderful building and if it had a bit of love we could do something really postive with it.”

The Hippodrome fundraiser follows a similar outing for Nick and his bandmates - drummer Neel Parmar and bass player Wesley Smith - who all took part in a benefit gig in October 2010 to help save the very venue they are set to play at tomorrow.

Now they hope their support will help to save the Hippodrome as a top borough venue for the arts.

Music lovers are also keen to turn the basement underneath the historic Castle Hill building into a new venue for live, original music.

All of the bands and the venue have donated their services for free for Friday’s fundraiser which will run from 7pm to 1am.

Tickets for the event cost £6 and they are available from the site www.savethe.dudleyhippo.co.uk