Fylde coast musicians supporting Waterloo Music Bar with live stream event on Saturday

Solo artists and members of various bands have specially recorded a Christmas song on a video which will go out 'live' tomorrow night at 8.30pm, introduced by legendary Blackpool DJ, Lionel Vinyl.

Many of those involved in the event previously took part in the 2011 Sand Aid sessions, when a collaboration of unsigned Blackpool musicians wrote and recorded an original festive song, with the proceeds going to BBC Children In Need.

Now they've got together again with another song for Sand Aid 2020, and this time the proceeds will help the Waterloo Music Bar, the popular live music venue which is in danger of closure after being hit hard by this year's coronavirus lockdowns.

Viewers can get personally involved by uploading their own selfies onto the live link and it is planned these can be turned into a gallery, which will be displayed after the main video is shown.

The live link can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CW_8P8g-EI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1VVc2mpvm56mGOgDFuJAnSEzHwDRjSJJcaWPQ2SOdthm5D9aFE4FxorFYWaterloo Bar owner Ian Fletcher, a huge supporter of live music, told the Gazette last week that the Waterloo had been running at a loss in the latter part of this year, because of lockdown.

It has been put on a crisis list of the top 30 UK grass roots music venues at risk of shutting down.

Musicians from Blackpool and the rest of the Fylde coast have rallied to the cause, and the live page is linked to the GoFundMe fundraiser which has so far raised £20,339, with the target being £50,0000.

Fylde coast musician Rob Hulme, who has played in many bands including Blackpool combo Stiff Richard, is one of the main coordinators of the live stream event on Saturday night.

He said: "Ian has done a brilliant job building up the Waterloo Music Bar to what it has become.

"It is a place where bands love to play, an iconic independent music venue which can't be allowed top close.

"As musicians, we just want to do our bit to help it."

Musicians supplying vocals are: Rob Bridge (Ex-Shady), Tony Mitchell (solo artist and ex-Kiss of the Gypsy), Donna Garey (Ex-Pink Floydian trubute band), Russ Smith (Rupert Fabulous), Drea Knight (Molly's Chamber), John Calvert (Boomshanka), solo artist Ian Hooper, Mole (Ex-Stiff Richard), Emily Adams (X-Factor semi-finalist) an Bob Wareham (The Heat).

The backing band features Kim Sweeney (drums), Norman Burrows (bass), Rob Hulme (lead guitar) and Jo Orban (keyboard).

Rob's son, Tom Hulme of ABM Studio, is helping to set up the live link.