A fundraiser for one of the biggest festivals in the area takes place this month, billed as a night of ‘punk-rock mayhem’.

The event in support of Baldock’s annual pub and street music festival, Balstock, takes place at The Rose and Crown in the town with The Toxins, Ministers Dead, Hostages For Smack and Sh**house.

Organiser Graeme ‘G’ LaRoche, who also plays bass in the Hostages, said: “After Balstock 2011 became the biggest free music festival in Hertfordshire, Balstock 2012 is promising to be even bigger.

As Balstock is an independent festival, which is 90 per cent self-funded, we’ve had to up the ante and organise over twice as many fundraisers for this year’s event than in 2011. Hopefully these fundraisers will allow Balstock to be a well organised and professional festival without having to charge punters entry to any of the Balstock venues.”

Entry to the first fundraiser on Friday January 20 is �3 which goes straight to the festival as the bands are all playing for free.

This year’s Balstock takes place on September 7 to 9. If you are interested in playing at the festival or at any of the fundraisers email balstock@hotmail.co.uk

Follow events on Facebook and Twitter and at balstock.com