Making music for Mind

NEW York City’s hip-hop star Pam Amsterdam is used to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Iggy Pop.

- BY CHRIS BLACKHURST

But last month he flew to the UK to play to a sell-out crowd of just 60 hip-hop fans in a tiny venue in Nantwich.

It was the latest coup in a series of gigs that local lad Tim Dougill and his band of volunteers have managed to pull off at the town’s Granary Arts café - all while raising more than £18,000 for mental health charities.

Next month they continue their march towards the £20,000 target with another night of hip-hop, this time featuring grassroots acts from Crewe, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Manchester.

Organiser Tim said: “The Pan Amsterdam gig was something else, the place was packed and the feedback was incredible.