LIVE music will entertain supporters and welcome crews, including our very own Beacon Bucaneers, home at the end of the 49th staging of The Rotary Club of Monmouth Raft Race on Sunday (7th September) The event will be headlined by Monmouthshire band Twysted River with support from West Country outfit Don't Tell Johnny. Chepstow Comprehensive School A-level pupils Ollie Barnes, Rita Bonifacio and Clara Zorab, who make up illeagle, will open the gig. The 16-year-olds have also learnt their band's name to a six-member raft taking part in the race which is crewed by Ollie's two brothers, Chepstow School old boys Dan and Matt. Along with live music there will be a family festival at Tump Farm, Whitebrook, from 1pm to 5pm, including the chance to see all the rafts and crews arrive back, a children's fairground, a fun house, rides, face painting, a bouncy castle slide, go karts, traditional side shows, a hog roast and bar stocked full of locally brewed real ale. The presentation of raft race awards for various categories and classes will be made at 4pm. The Monmouth Raft Race is organised by The Rotary Club of Monmouth and sponsored by Mandarin Stone, Basepoint as well as DHL, raises funds for St David's Hospice Care and other local charities. Norman Williams of Monmouth Rotary Club said: "It's a brilliant day out not just for the raft racers who have a super time on the water but also for the supporters and others who come along to watch the rafts go down the River Wye and then enjoy all that is on offer at the end of the event in Whitebrook. "We are expecting that we will be able to collect a bumper amount for our charities this year with a record 101 rafts already entered for the event and also the stalls and other attractions assembled at the end." The event raised more that £25,000 for charity last year with a major chunk of that money going to St David's Hospice Care Kris Broome, of St David's Hospice Care, said: "The event is a major fundraiser for St David's Hospice Care and we're extremely grateful to sponsors, entrants and to Monmouth Rotary Club, for all that they do to ensure it is a success year after year." The raft race starts from the steps of Monmouth Rowing Club and finishes 6.5 miles downriver at Tump Farm in Whitebrook, where there is the family festival with food, live music, children's fairground and the bar. Entry costs just £75 per raft including a commitment to raise a minimum of £100 per raft in sponsorship. Online entries can be submitted by visiting http://www.monmouthraftrace.com">www.monmouthraftrace.com or download an entry form from the same web page and post the entry to the address given or call raft race secretary, Rotarian David Forbes, on 01600 712665 or Kris Broome at St David's Hospice Care on 01633 851051.