THE countdown to a big name, big-hearted Bridgwater concert for people recovering from the Somerset flooding devastation is well and truly on.

On Friday, May 16, the Blake Hall will welcome Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Reverend & The Makers and Toploader.

At £30 a ticket, all the money raised will go to the Somerset Community Foundation’s Flood Relief Fund to be distributed straight to those most in need.

Core members from the Flooding on the Levels Action Group volunteer and campaign network will collect donations on the night and sell FLAG merchandise.

Lloyd TSB’s Bridgwater branch has pledged to match-fund these collections.

Devonshire songstress of soul Joss Stone has even recorded a YouTube video for screening at the Bridgwater concert, in support.

Here’s our quick-fire guide to the acts:

STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL: By far their best-known single, ‘Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)’ reached number one in the UK charts in February 1975.

Originally written as a ballad, it sold over one million copies worldwide.

Harley had been scribbling away as a local news journalist in the early seventies when he and original member, folk artist John Crocker, decided to join forces in Cockney Rebel – which Harley used as a “vehicle for his own work”.

The Performing Rights Society says ‘Make Me Smile’ is one of the most played records in British broadcasting, covered more than 11 times in seven languages.

REVEREND & THE MAKERS: The Sheffield group’s infectious, best-known single, ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart in 2007.

The band are celebrating ten years on the ‘scene’ with new album ThirtyTwo, which was released in February.

TOPLOADER: First to confirm for the concerts, the English pop-rockers band sold millions with their cover of ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’, which re-entered the UK charts last June.

Frontman Joe Washbourn said: “We were really honoured to be asked early on. There was no question.”

Grab your tickets while you can for the concert by visiting www.seetickets.com or at Blake Hall or Strings N Things.