Charity concerts featuring Elbow, Coldplay and Sin�ad O’Connor at Hackney church were huge success

Organisers are already discussing the return of Little Noise Sessions to St John at Hackney church next year.

A six-day music festival which saw acts including Elbow, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Irish singer-songwriter Sin�ad O’Connor play one-off gigs at St John at Hackney Church last week raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity. Organisers of the Little Noise Sessions, which ran from Tuesday until Sunday in aid of Mencap, said they were “elated” with the event’s new home after it moved from Islington’s Union Chapel.

They are hoping the festival has made �200,000 for Mencap, which supports people with learning disabilities. The Little Noise Sessions have raised about �1million over the past five years.

“We’re are absolutely thrilled and exhausted,” said Hazel McIlwraith, Mencap’s assistant director of fundraising.

“We were thrilled with the welcome we got from the people of Hackney.

“There were so many special little moments that wouldn’t have happened anywhere else but in that space. We’re just elated.”

She said organisers were already discussing plans to bring the festival back to the borough next year and possible gigs at the church in the summer.