SOME of the region's top bands will be uniting for a special charity gig in Lowestoft this May to remember the life of a much-loved local musician.Karen Sturgess died, aged 39, from cancer in June last year and one of her last wishes was for K Fest, a fundraising music festival which she helped to organise, is held each year.

SOME of the region's top bands will be uniting for a special charity gig in Lowestoft this May to remember the life of a much-loved local musician.

Karen Sturgess died, aged 39, from cancer in June last year and one of her last wishes was for K Fest, a fundraising music festival which she helped to organise, is held each year.

The first K Fest took place at the Globe Inn in Lowestoft last year, when Karen, known as Kay, organised the event to raise money for the Big C Appeal, the Macmillan Nurses and the James Paget Sandra Chapman Suite.

A total of nine local bands performed as �2,000 was raised for the charities that had helped Kay through her illness.

Before organising the event, Kay had been diagnosed with breast cancer for the third time and although she was able to perform at the gig, she lost her battle against the disease on June 20, 2008.

Kay's family and friends have now announced that this year's K Fest will take place outside The Fisherman's Wharf in Lowestoft on Sunday, May 24 to celebrate her life and accomplishments.

A number of top local bands have already confirmed for the event, with Not Clever, Six Degrees of Separation, D-Tox and Nevacain all signed up, and more to be announced. Over nine bands are expected to play a 45 minute set each on an outside stage, with acoustic artists performing indoors in between.

There will also be a wide range of fundraising activities, with performances from Jumpin Jax Dance School during the day, as well as face painting, balloon modelling, hair cutting, spraying and shaving.

'All this is to commemorate the life and courage of K, her contribution to the local music scene, her efforts for young people in the town from her work with the Shaw Trust and to raise as much money as we can for her designated charities,' said co-organiser Lindsay Moore.

K-Fest takes place on Sunday, May 24 from noon.