GLASGOW hip-hop hero Louie Lowis is joining forces with musicians from all over Scotland to raise money for Yorkhill Hospital.

And the 27-year-old rap star, who is one half of award-winning duo Hector Bizerk, was inspired to stage the fundraiser by his mum.

Louie's mum Sandra Lowis has been a nurse at Yorkhill for 25 years, and is currently working in the neo-natal unit,where she cares for ill or premature new-born babies.

Among the acts who have signed up so far for the benefit gig at the Old Hairdresser's in Renfield Lane, on April 26, include members of Dundee band The View, beat boxer Bigg Taj and Glasgow band Tijuana Bibles.

Louie, from Robroyston, in the north of the city, also took inspiration from a gig he had performed with his bandmate Audrey Tait, at children's hospice Rachel House, in Kinross.They had been invited to play in January by the family of teenager Kyle Adams, a big fan of the band, who suffers from a genetic condition,

Louie, whose real name is John, said: "Every single one of those young people in Rachel House had spent a good chunk of their life in Yorkhill and, with my mum working in Yorkhill as well, I just thought I should do something."

In a twist of fate Louie's mum Sandra had looked after Kyle when he was a baby.

He said: "Kyle loves our band, so his dad started coming to see us because his boy loved it.

"I couldn't believe it when my mum said she had looked after him.

"It just shows that Yorkhill's here and we should be proud that we've got a facility that looks after sick children.

"If you live in a rural part of Scotland maybe you don't have this on your doorstep."

Sandra said she was proud of her son for helping "such a good cause".

She said working in the hospital was, for the most part, a positive experience.

The mum-of-four said: "It's changed so much over the years. Kids don't have to stay here as long as they used to.

"I would say it's positive. But for parents who lose their children, it is tragic."

As well as live music there will be a raffle and a silent auction of artwork by Pearl Kinnear, Barry Neeson and Tragic O'Hara.

Louie is today travelling to America to play a series of gigs with Hector Bizerk.

The band recently scooped Best Hip Hop Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards.

rachel.loxton@eveningtimes.co.uk

l To get tickets for the benefit gig visit http://t-s.co/louie

l To contribute to the Yorkhill Children's Charity visit http://www.yorkhill.org/