Coldplay to headline Mencap's Big Noise Session

Wednesday 02 December 2009

Music superstars to play special gig at Exeter Castle this month

Mencap is to host a new event at Exeter Castle on 19 December featuring one of the biggest bands on the planet.

Coldplay will headline Mencap's Big Noise Session in front of 500 lucky fans, with all proceeds going towards supporting Mencap's work. The band will be joined by UK songstress Lily Allen and chart favourites La Roux in a unique Christmas spectacular.

The event comes hot on the heels of last month's Little Noise Sessions, which saw artists including David Gray, Alexandra Burke, Mika and Arctic Monkey's Alex Turner perform acoustic sets at the Union Chapel in Islington, London.

The stunning Exeter Castle will provide the setting for the event, which will be staged inside a marquee transformed into a Christmas winter wonderland.

Coldplay singer Chris Martin says: "I don't think there could be a better way to end the decade... La Roux, Lily Allen, Jo Whiley – what more can you ask for? We're proud to support Mencap and, for me, it's exciting to play my hometown. We haven't played there since 2000. It's going to be really, really special."

Tickets for Mencap's Big Noise Session will go on pre-sale via www.littlenoisesessions.org.uk. They will be available from 8 December, subject to subscription, at a cost of £50. A limited number will go on sale at HMV, 191 High Street, Exeter on 10 December before going on general release the next day.

Go to the Little Noise Sessions website