If the credit crunch is doing you some favours and you’re actually feeling particuarly plush at the moment, maybe you’ll be interested in bidding on some amazing money-can’t-buy items thanks to childrens charity Rays of Sunshine. Normally they hold a gala dinner at London’s Roundhouse, however in the current climate they’ve moved online, auctioning their amazing lots online and giving everyone a chance to win the auction, not just the rich..

Website founder Mia Woodford commented “The Rays of Sunshine Virtually Brilliant Auction contains some of the best lots we have ever seen. Bids have already started to come in for such money-can’t-usually-buy opportunities as meeting the Kaiser Chiefs or Coldplay, with VIP concert tickets, or the chance to go on set with Emma Thompson as she films Nanny Mc Phee II”

So, if you want a chance to win some of the amazing auction items below, just go on over to Rays of Sunshine’s online auction. At the time of writing, you can get 6 VIP Madness tickets for just £80 - so get bidding before the price goes astronomical.

Auctioned items include:

• 2 VIP tickets to see Coldplay in concert followed by a meet and greet
• 2 VIP tickets to see Kaiser Chiefs at Wembley Arena followed by a meet and greet
• A Fender guitar signed by Sting
• The chance to have lunch or dinner with Craig David at his home in Hampstead
• 4 VIP tickets, flights and accommodation to the 2009 Europe Music Awards in Berlin
• 6 VIP tickets to see Madness and meet the band backstage

Following on from last year’s amazing lineup, the Mencap Little Noise sessions are back again this November to raise more money for the mental disability charity.

The series of gigs at London’s Islington Union Chapel will take place over about 2 weeks, with more dates and artists to be announced

The charity’s ambassador, Jo Whiley, may be on maternity leave from her job at Radio 1, but she’s managed to get an incredible lineup to play. She commented: “Mencap’s Little Noise Sessions are a great opportunity to see big name bands play an acoustic gig in an intimate setting, whilst raising money for a really worthwhile cause.”

Fans wanting to buy tickets need to register on Mencapmusic.org.uk between October 1 and 16. All proceeds from ticket sales go to Mencap.

Saturday 8th November - Glasvegas, Cage the Elephant
Sunday 9th November - Razorlight, Florence and the Machine, Esser
Monday 10th November - Stereophonics, Seasick Steve
Tuesday 11th November - Adele, Angus And Julia Stone
Wednesday 12th November - Biffy Clyro, Friendly Fires, Frank Turner
Thursday 13th November - James Morrison, Katy Perry, Sam Beeton
Friday 14th November - Kasabian, Reverend and the Makers, The Hours, Fight Like Apes
Saturday 15th November - Keane, The Script, Bryn Christopher, Red Light Company
Tuesday 18th November - The Fratellis

Remember when indie bands had a want to succeed? A desire to achieve? Not many bands have it in this corporate day and age, toeing the line, saying what they’re told (yes, Scouting For Girls, we’re looking at you), however one band seems like they may just be able to break the mainstream, and still have the desire to achieve massive things.

Their name? Parka.

This Glasgow via London quintet played the “Bollocks to Poverty” event at London’s Borderline, along with The Krak, LR Rockets and Toy Guns. After two rather solid performances from LR Rockets and Toy Guns, it was Parka’s turn, the first band to really get people dancing. Granted, their tunes aren’t completely innovative, they just use a tried and tested formula of guys and guitars (and in their case, a saxophonist too) to make good lads-down-the-pub music. The path trodden by Boy Kill Boy, the Fratellis, the Ordinary Boys and Madness before them is repeated, re-hashed and re-built into some instantly hummable tunes.

Looking like a lo-fi Klaxons with day-glo braces, lead singer Matty guided the fivesome through an impressive set, talking little just plain straight-up guitar tunes. “This is a slower song, so you can dance if you want, or just beat the crap out of each other. If you chose the latter, do it gently, it is a charity gig” commented Matty with a smirk on his face, before plunging into “Closing Time”.

It’s surprising how, with only two released singles, they’ve got such a strong set, culminating in a stage invasion by The Krak ahead of their headlining slot later in the evening. Drunk, yes, but with so much, well, oomph, they could be a force to be reckoned with should the likes of Radio 1 get behind them.

After the jump: Photos.

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Looking for the 2008 Mencap Gigs? Click here. This page is about 2007’s Mencap Gigs!

Updates: I’ve just added the 20th November gig and the 26th November gigs, thanks to a comment from Kathryn below. This was originally posted on 4th October.

The brilliant Mencap have announced this year’s “Little Noise Sessions”, a series of intimate, acoustic gigs, which will take place from Tuesday 20th November to Wednesday 28 November 2007, at Islington’s Union Chapel in London. They’ll be hosted by Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley.

To get tickets you’ll have to register here to get tickets when they go on sale. Ticket registration opens on Tuesday 2 October and closes at 12.00 Friday 19 October. Those who have registered can then buy tickets online on a first-come-first-served basis from 9am on Monday 22 October. Tickets are £35 each.

The gigs will raise money for Mencap’s Arts Awards scheme which enables children and young people with a learning disability to take part in local arts projects.

Tuesday 20th November - Secret Headliner, Jack Penate, Laura Marling, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
Wednesday 21st November - Athlete and The Hoosiers
Thursday 22nd November - Will Young, Newton Faulkner and Adele
Friday 23rd November - Biffy Clyro, We Are Scientists and Young Knives
Saturday 24th November - The Pigeon Detectives and The Metros
Sunday 25th November - Snow Patrol and Cajun Dance Party
Monday 26th November - Kate Nash, Robyn, The Ting Tings
Tuesday 27th November - The Enemy + Special Guests
Wednesday 28th November - Keane, Rilo Kiley + Scouting For Girls