SOUTHEND’S Rockit Club is counting down to a Love Music Hate Racism fundraiser at the Sunrooms on Saturday, August 2.

The brain child of Leigh’s Oliver Abbott, Rockit launched itself into orbit after breaking free from the pioneering Junk Club, which was instrumental in cementing a recognised music scene in the town.

Beginning life in the basement of the Royal Hotel, Junk picked up rave reviews in the national press, with NME, Rolling Stone and Vogue all covering the club night which gave birth to bands such as the Horrors, the Violets and These New Puritans.

Abbott’s latest project, Rockit - which has a first Friday of the month residency at the Sunrooms, in Market Place - focuses on underground black music, dance hall and rare soul.

“Rockit is Southend’s answer to New York and Kingston Town, from the Sixties right through to the Eighties,” explained Abbott, 27.

“We like the old block party days of tight track suits, eclectic sound systems and the ethos of arm waving, with the whole neighbourhood getting together to have a good time.

“We’ll have two floors dedicated to rare Jamaican and Americana dance music, from black R’n’B to northern soul, block party hip-hop, disco reggae and digital dub shockers.

“We’ve basically put the best in Southend and London clubs together for this event. Junk, Experimental Circle Club, Kool Kids Klub, the Sect and the Butterfly Club, are all on board, plus big names from the English hip-hop scene, like Danny Break. DJ IQ and Asaviour are also doing a live stint on the turntables.

“It’s important for us to support LMHR and raise awareness of the organisation, and its work to show a common unity and stand against racial abuse and feelings.”

LMHR is a music-oriented campaign by the Anti-Nazi League and Unite Against Fascism. The campaign, which is heavily supported by Southend’s very own Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., involves concerts aimed at spreading an anti-racist message.

It follows in the tradition of the pioneering Rock Against Racism concerts of 1978, when nearly 100,000 people marched from Trafalgar Square to a National Front hotspot, in East London, to watch bands like the Clash, Buzzocks and Sham 69 play a protest gig.

The Rockit event at the Sunrooms runs between 9pm and 3am. Admission is £6 before 11pm and £7 after, with all proceeds going to LMHR. For more information, check out the Rockit website at www.myspace.com/cdsarewhack