HOYLAKE-born musician Jimmy Rae will celebrate the release of his new album with a hometown concert for Wirral Autistic Society later this month.

The Friday September 25 gig, at King's Gap Court Hotel, will be the first home town show for more than three years for the singer/songwriter and his five piece band The Firewalkers. It will mark the release of his new album, Deliverance.

Also appearing will be Oxton singer-songwriter Dean Johnson who has seven albums to his credit including one produced by Wet Wet Wet, toured extensively with the likes of 10 cc and The Christians and played the Royal Albert Hall.

Proceeds will go to Wirral Autistic Society’s £1.3m Home from Home appeal, which is raising money for a new respite centre.

Both Jimmy and Dean have busy schedules but are looking forward to playing Kings Gap.

Jimmy said: "It's been a really hectic year, finishing off the album and organising the release as well as doing a string of charity gigs for great causes.

"We're really looking forward to this special night in Hoylake and what promises to be a great showcase for Wirral music."

There will also be live music from the award-winning musical play 'Twopence to Cross the Mersey', which returns to the Liverpool Empire for two weeks on October 6.

The show is based on Helen Forrester's true story and will star Pauline Daniels and Mark Moraghan.

Songs from the show will be performed by Dalya who sang lead and backing vocals on the album from the show.

Writer and producer of the show, Rob Fennah, said: "It is a strange coincidence, but Helen Forrester has stayed at Kings Gap on a number of occasions when she has been visiting the UK from her home in Canada.

"In fact the last time I met her was at the hotel. She is very fond of the location as it is close to the house where her grandmother lived but she could never get there because she didn’t have Twopence to Cross the Mersey."

Tickets for the night which starts at 7.30pm with a late bar cost £10 and are available from Rick Myers at the Wirral Autistic Society on 0151 482 3145, 07887 631218 or rick.myers@wirral.autistic.org.

They are also available from John Champman Insurance, 31a Market Street, Hoylake, 0151 632 1910.

Jimmy will giving away a free copy of the album with every pair of tickets sold.