Local Edinburgh musicians will perform a joint concert in support of Scotland’s first dedicated support and wellbeing centre for people impacted by breast cancer.
Local musicians, Annie and the Jays, Heads Up, Ben Lauder and Cora Manchester are joining together for a gig entitled Bands 4 Hope in the Cold Town House bar on 9 May.
The group aim to raise funds for The House of Hope, Scotland’s first dedicated support and wellbeing centre for people impacted by breast cancer, which is based on Gorgie Road.
Annie and George Liddle, of the band Annie and the Jays are behind the charity concert following their mother, Cat MacLean’s, breast cancer journey.
Bands 4 Hope poster. © Supplied
The pair “wanted to give back and say thank you to The House of Hope for the incredible support their mum receives and felt a live music gig was a fitting way to do this, given their family’s musical talent.”
Their father Gordon is better known as the drummer of 1970s band Bilbo Baggins, with George following in his father’s footsteps as the drummer for Annie and the Jays.
Cat, 59, from south Edinburgh was diagnosed with primary breast cancer in 2013 and had treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy. A keen runner, Cat kept up her training all the way through chemo and successfully ran a half marathon that year.
In 2022 she developed a slight niggle in her back. Following a chest X-Ray, Cat was sent for a CT scan which showed a lesion on her lung and after further examination it revealed a large lesion in her vertebral spine. She was given a secondary breast cancer diagnosis.
Cat has spent the last three years undergoing treatment, but is “living well and leading a fulfilled life”.
Cat MacLean, George and Annie Liddle © Supplied
Throughout her treatment, Cat has been using the wellbeing services at The House of Hope since its opening in June 2025.
She described it as “a real lifeline and a fantastic space to meet like-minded people and unwind while going through treatment”.
In 2023, Cat was diagnosed with brain mets and began having regular MRI scans, targeted radiotherapy and then last year she was moved onto oral chemotherapy and is currently managing the side effects of this treatment.
Annie Liddle said: “My mum is a true inspiration and the support she has received from The House of Hope has been fantastic during her treatment, so we wanted to give back and say thank you.
“Music is in our blood, so it was a natural way for us to help raise funds by collaborating with other local talent to put on a live music gig to help raise funds and awareness and celebrate my mum’s courageous journey.”
Proceeds from the Bands 4 Hope gig will be sent directly to fund wellbeing services for those impacted by breast cancer.
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