Rick Astley will be rocking out for charity later this month.

Astley and his band the Luddites will be playing rock and punk covers of songs by The Killers, Kings of Leon and Green Day at a benefit gig at the Rose Theatre on April 11 to raise funds for Kingston’s International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF), scheduled for July.

The band, formed by Astley and his friends Simon Mattacks and Graham Stack, have clocked up plenty of performances at East Molesey Cricket Club and they have also played gigs in the south of France and at Claridges, but the Rose concert will be their biggest to date.

Astley says The Luddites is not the symptom of mid-life crisis. “It is probably down more to the fact that we were all in bands when we were kids so it’s like we are 18 again,” he adds. “Although we are missing a few things 18 year olds have like energy and drive.”

Astley sold 40 million records as a solo artist and, although his role in The Luddites sees him take on vocal duties, he also finds himself back where he began – behind a drum kit.

“I played drums in bands at school but it was difficult being behind the drums as it meant you couldn’t pick up the chicks,” he says.

“Singing at the same time is not easy, to be honest, but we play simple rock – we don’t like to make things too complicated.”

Eager Astley fans will also be pleased to hear that their hero is not averse to belting out a special Luddites’ version of his best known hit, Never Going to Give You Up, particularly if it raises a few bob for charities.

“I don’t have a favoured charity but I do like to lean towards anything to do with kids, being a Dad myself,” he says.

Rick Astley and the Luddites, Rose Theatre, Kingston, April 11, 7.30pm, £10, 0871 230 1552, rosetheatrekingston.org