MUSICIANS are joining together to celebrate the life of a popular concert-goer by raising money for the hospice that cared for her in her final weeks.

Friends and relatives of Leila Soltau were devastated by her death from a brain tumour just a month before her 31st birthday.

Miss Soltau, from East Oxford, was a familiar face to many through her work as an artist and jobs at Blackwells bookshop in Broad Street and the former Brickworks bar in Cowley Road.

She had been a keen gig-goer, with a love of the Oxford music scene.

Now some of her favourite artists have banded together for a show in her memory to raise money for Helen & Douglas House, in Magdalen Road, which looked after her until her death in September The gig, which takes place at The Cellar on Monday, features Miss Soltau’s favourite local band Family Machine, Oxford blues artist Huck Astley, formerly of rock act Sextodecimo, and punk trio These Are Our Demands.

The night is headlined by Scottish rock band Meursault, who have a cult following.

The night has been organised by promoter and musician Sebastian Reynolds, a columnist in the Oxford Mail’s sister paper The Oxford Times.

He said: “It’s going to be a musically excellent night in memorial of a keen gig-goer and friend. It is also an opportunity for Leila’s friends to come together, enjoy a good night out and remember her, while giving something back to Helen & Douglas House, which cared for her in her darkest days.

He added: “The Cellar was one of Leila’s favourite places to go out in Oxford and I was delighted to be able to book Huck, who was a good friend of hers, and Family Machine who were her favourite Oxford band.”

Miss Soltau, a former Cherwell School student originally from the Nettlebed area, was diagnosed with a brain tumour three and a half years ago.

She had undergone successive bouts of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, while being looked after by her boyfriend Joe Wilkins.

Monday’s concert falls, coincidentally, on what would have been the couple’s anniversary.

Mr Wilkins, from Henley Avenue, Oxford, said: “At the beginning of the year it was obvious we were running out of treatments and then in September her health deteriorated and she became quite sick. I couldn’t properly look after her any more so she went to Helen & Douglas House.

“She lasted longer than people thought. Helen & Douglas House looked after her really well.”

Speaking of the concert, he said: “It was really nice of Sebastian to offer to do this. She loved going to gigs and Family Machine were her favourite, so it is really nice for them to play. She would have appreciated it.

“Leila was a very familiar face and knew lots of people in Oxford and this will allow us all to remember her.”

Entry is by a minimum donation of £6, with further generosity encouraged. All proceeds will be donated to Helen and Douglas House. Doors open at 7.30pm.