Guildford audiences were treated to two spectacular nights of live music as the annual ‘Paul Jones and Friends’ concerts once again hit all the right notes, raising money for the Prostate Project.

This precise line-ups are always a closely guarded secret right up until show time, with guest appearances by Van Morrison, Kiki Dee, Sir Tom Jones, and Jools Holland all joining Paul on stage in previous years. Indeed, such is the reputation of the events that tickets sell out within hours of going on sale as promoter and long-time supporter of the Prostate Project Tony Smith of Eclectic Live Music explains why the tickets are in such demand.

‘‘Paul Jones has an amazing network of ‘friends’, and every year he persuades these lovely people to give freely of their time, with brilliant musicians and household names putting on some spectacular shows. This year it was the turn of bona fide legend, Lulu, to wow the audience, along with The Real Thing and the regular Friends band, the fabulous Jawbone, and The Yardbirds, among many other talented artists.’’

While the final total has yet to be confirmed, early indications are of another record year for ticket sales, and along with collections on both nights, it looks likely that more than £64,000 will have been raised for the Prostate Project.

Prostate Project Chairman, Martin Davies, was of course thrilled by the amount, but in thanking Paul and his Friends, he is quick to mention another key component of the events.

‘’G Live is a great venue, and this year they kindly allowed us to park our mobile PSA Blood Testing Clinic, the ‘Man Van’, outside the front doors on both nights. The purpose-built vehicle is designed to deliver PSA Blood tests which can help to detect prostate cancer, but it is also a great focal point for our messaging, allowing men to approach us for advice and information, and also to tell us their own prostate cancer stories.

 

 

To hear so many men tell us that they have been encouraged to get a PSA Blood test by our presence at previous concerts and events, really does make all the fundraising worthwhile.

As early stage prostate cancer is usually symptomless, it is not an overstatement to suggest that lives have been saved and prolonged by our work to raise awareness of the need for all men over the age of 50, black, or with a family history of prostate cancer to ‘Get Tested’. Caught early, prostate cancer is usually curable.

For Paul Jones and his many friends to continue to give his time so generously supported year after year by Tony Smith, and his many musical friends is an astonishing effort, and we cannot thank them enough”.

The great news for music fans is that Paul Jones will be bringing his Friends back to G Live in January 2026, with what promises to be the most spectacular line-up ever.

Image shows Prostate Project Chairman Martin Davies, Lulu and Paul Jones – photo credit Rob Blackham

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