A SPECIAL folk concert will be held at a Dorchester church in aid of Mercy Ships.

The event, which will take place on March 22 at United Church, features the Dorset-based duo Ninebarrow and singer songwriter Paul J Openshaw.

Ninebarrow is made up of Jon Whitley and Jay Labouchardiere who combine vocal harmonies with a variety of musical instruments, including tenor ukulele, mandola and melodeon.

They perform traditional and contemporary material as well as their own original songs. In 2013, the duo were crowned winners of the Larmer Tree Festival Breakthrough Music Award.

They were also number one in Drunkenwerewolf Magazine’s 2013 hidden acoustic gems. Parishioner Maria Jacobson said: “All proceeds will go to Mercy Ships to support the work they do providing medical care in Africa.”

Mercy Ships is an international charity that was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens.

It currently operates the largest non-governmental hospital ship in the world, providing free health care, community development projects, community health education, mental health programs, agriculture projects, and palliative care for terminally ill patients.

Mercy Ships has operated in more than 70 developing nations around the world, with a current focus on the countries of West Africa.

The concert will take place between 7pm and 10pm, doors open at 6.30pm and tickets cost £5 from Harmony Music, Dorchester or via paulopenshaw.com/shop.