SINGERS and musicians from Barnsley have come together to record a version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ made famous by the Band Aid supergroup.
More than 30 artists and bands collaborated and recorded the track at Rhythm Inc studios with the aim of raising funds for the Band Aid Trust.
The song and video, recorded by Ari Rannus and filmed by Martin Thornton, of Woodstock Studios, is being released today at 8am.
A Just Giving page has also been set up where people can pledge donations and in return they will receive a ‘bloopers’ video as a reward.
Chris Scarfe from One Over the Eight promotions, which organises live music events in Barnsley and helped round up the musicians for the song, said the idea for the remake came about earlier this year when lots of the artists and bands involved in putting it together performed on the Rhythm Inc stage at Penistone Show.
Bob Wynne, director of Rhythm Inc, said: “At Penistone Show, and Tour De Yorkshire earlier in the year, we’d managed to pull together a lot of people involved in the local music community, and we wanted that to continue. So a Christmas song seemed like a good idea.”
The musicians soon realised they had more than one common link - not only were they all Barnsley-based but many of them knew Richard ‘Rich T’ Tolson, who was the head of music and performing arts at Barnsley College up until his death in 2013.
In a nod to Rich T, all the vocals on the remake were recorded on a microphone that belonged to him and most of those taking part in this project had a connection with Rich T either as a student, colleague, friend or a recipient of a grant from EnRich, the charity that was set up in his memory.
Chris Scarfe told the Chronicle: “I was tasked with rounding up as many people as possible to form the choir for the song.
“Everyone I asked was keen to do it, but getting them all into a room at the same time wasn’t easy. A few missed out, which was a shame, but those that were there did a brilliant job.”
Vocals on the track are performed by Brandon Walton, Emily Worton, Tom Prendergast, Craig Royston, Kieran La Fox, Absent Average, The Delicateers and Romy Harris plus a choir of various other artists who perform regularly at events organised by One Over The Eight promotions.
Josie Whiteley, chairman of EnRich, was touched that it had been done with Richard in mind. She said: “The recording being in memory of Rich T is a lovely bonus and we will share wherever we can via EnRich. It’s a great song.”
Chris is hoping those who enjoy the single will make a small donation online to say ‘thank you’ to the musicians and singers and to support Band Aid this Christmas for the lifesaving work the charity does in Africa.
He said all proceeds will be donated to The Band Aid Charitable Trust in Rich T’s memory.
To listen to the song click here.
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/enrichxmas.
