The Bronte Schoolroom in Haworth is preparing for one of its most high profile visitors, and what has been dubbed a “world first” concert.

This evening, pioneering New York musician Patti Smith (pictured) will play one of her smallest concerts in the schoolroom to raise money for the Bronte Society.

All 125 tickets for the tiny gig, ‘An Evening of Words and Music’, sold out in just two days after they went on sale in January. The concert was arranged after Smith, a huge fan of the literary family, visited the Museum at the end of 2012. She was so inspired by her trip that she offered to perform for free in an effort to raise funds for the Brontë Society, which maintains and runs the Brontë Parsonage Museum and schoolroom.

Museum director Ann Sumner said: “As far as we know this is the first time a rock star has ever held a concert to benefit a museum in the UK. We are honoured and grateful Patti Smith has chosen to support us in this way, and very excited to hear her play.”