Saturday was the Unity Day 2009 hospitality night - and yours truly was compère for the evening. I borrowed this marvelous tailcoat from the Ladybird's bottomless circus wardrobe. I don't know that pink and blue are my best colours, but it was fun to wear and got plenty of compliments.

The hospitality night is a chance for the Unity Day volunteers to catch up with each other, let our hair down and have a jolly good knees-up. We do it every year as our way of saying thanks to each other for helping to make Unity Day happen. Lots of us like to dress up to the nines, making a change from muddy boots and steward t-shirts.

There was music from some great local bands: anarchic dance from big-band Bassa Bassa, easy-groovin' reggae from The Roots Family UK, and the oddly named Ukelele Bitchslap, who are lovely. Many thanks to all of them for coming along to entertain us. Between bands I slipped in a recital of Three Ha'pence A Foot by Marriott Edgar, to show folk just how bad the rain could have been.

An exquisite new patchwork Unity banner was shown off by Maggie and Kerri, the new Unity Day wall calendar was passed around, and we saw video and photos from this year's main event. Plus, the home-made curry was superb.

Now the serious business of the Christmas panto can begin...

I've been roped in as compère for the Unity Day "Battle of the Bands" this Sunday. Come along to the last fundraiser before the big day...

TJ's Woodhouse Club, Woodhouse Street, Leeds. Starts 7pm till late. 4 quid on the door, all proceeds go towards Hyde Park Unity Day.

The winning fish (as judged by the Unity Day management committee) gets to play the one remaining slot on the Chemic Tavern's Beer and Band Taverna stage. Taking part are:

• Saving Time
• Sawsound
• Crackhouse Cru
• 3 Man Bench (great name for a band...)
• The Blue Lighters

Most of them have web-sites with audio, so I'll give them all a good listen. I like to get the feel of all the acts, so I can get the crowd on their side.

Hope to see you there!