MUSICIANS throughout the country will tomorrow be joining forces to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the most influential men to have worked in the industry.

MUSICIANS throughout the country will tomorrow be joining forces to celebrate the life and legacy of one of the most influential men to have worked in the industry.

The second John Peel Day will feature events across the country, including in Suffolk, where Peel made his home.

The national day of remembrance on October 12 marks the day that Peel made his last broadcast on BBC Radio 1 before his death in Peru in 2004.

Peel, who lived with his wife Sheila Ravenscroft at Great Finborough near Stowmarket, was the longest serving presenter on Radio 1 before his death and often broadcast from both his home and the BBC Radio Suffolk studios in Ipswich.

In Ipswich, two events have been planned to mark the day, one at the St Nicholas Centre and another at The Steamboat Tavern.

The evening event at the St Nicholas Centre will see three acts performing, two of them Ipswich.

Making Eyes at Elvis and Songs From The Blue House, both Ipswich based, will be joined by London band Magic8.

As well as being held to mark John Peel Day, the event will also raise money for Diabetes UK, which was chosen because Peel was diagnosed with diabetes in 2001.

At the Steamboat Tavern, the event has been organised by landlady Val Bint along with Paul Haley, of Ipswich band The Tuscan Raiders.

They will be performing at the Steamboat along with Caution Horses, The Wah, Lucky You and Cosmic Sands.

Music at the St Nicholas Centre will get underway at 7pm and at the Steamboat Tavern at 7.30pm.

Tuscan Raiders are one of the bands featured on The Evening Star's Breakthrough CD, which was created to celebrate the music of some of Suffolk's unsigned bands. For more information visit www.eveningstar.co.uk/breakthrough

WEBLINKS: www.jameskindred.co.uk/johnpeel

www.www.johnpeelday.com