A Charity concert with an American theme will be held to raise money for people affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The event, which takes place in Kemp Town next week, has been organised by people in east Brighton and is sponsored by firms across the city.

The gig will include comedy, jazz music and refreshments by Momma Cherri - Brighton's soul food restaurant.

It will be held at the Hanbury Ballroom, St George's Road, on Thursday, September 22.

The Katrina Appeal gig will also have a charity auction, hosted by award-winning Brighton stand-up comedian Eric Page.

Prizes donated so far include a pair of tickets to see Arsenal play Blackburn, a bottle of vintage Champagne, a pair of tickets to see Little Britain, the live show, in Brighton next year and three haircuts at Enzo.

There will also be appearances by celebrities and a raffle.

Doors will open at 7pm. From about 11pm to 2am, there will be music from the popular Stick It On team, who allow partygoers to bring their own records to play. Guests are invited to bring jazz or blues songs.

Organiser Sue Finch, who works at the Marie Curie Cancer Care shop in St George's Road, said: "We have been shocked by what we have seen, that in the 21st Century in a civilised country, that this sort of thing can happen and that so many people can be affected by such a disaster.

"Families have been split up. We are thousands of miles away and we really feel for them.We have got to let them know that they're not alone and we will offer them some financial support."

Chris Hibbert, fellow organiser and managing director of The Fusion Factory Limited in Margaret Street, said: "We saw these people suffering and the Government wasn't helping."

The gig's organisers are also setting up the Kemp Town Charity Fund, a permanent charity to help people in need at home and abroad.

It is hoped that this concert will encourage others to organise fundraising events across Brighton and Hove.

Tickets for the concert can be bought from three outlets in Brighton - FotoFinish in St George's Road, Strength Coffee Bar in St James's Street and Suga Qube in Castle Square, North Street.

Tickets for the concert are £15 and include food by Momma Cherri, whose restaurant is in Little East Street.

Every penny will go to The Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

These two charities were chosen because they are independent of any political organisation and were among the first on the scene when the city of New Orleans was devastated by flooding.

Raffle tickets will be on sale at FotoFinish, Egg And Spoon and Kemp Town Bookshop, all in St George's Road. For information or to donate, email katrinaappeal@brightoncares.org.uk or call 01273 684079.