Band Aid Liverpool is a project that was created by Liverpool professional musician Tony Cook in the summer of 2020. It features over seventy musicians and singers from the Liverpool area, with the aim of raising money for the nominated charity ‘Shelter’ - helping the homeless on Merseyside.
The producer is Brian Ambrose, also a professional musician from Liverpool, and the drummer with The Mersey Beatles. Tony Cook is also the keyboard player in the same band.
With the approval of the writers (Bob Geldof and Midge Ure) and publishers (Warner Chappell Music) of the original Band Aid, they have recorded a version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ which is to be released as a single in December 2020.
PERSONNEL The song involves musicians and singers of all ages, the youngest singer being Jess McDonald at just 11 years old. Other musicians include Billy Kinsley, Ian Prowse, Phil Jones, Paul Kappa, Gary Murphy, Billy Murray, Ian Forshaw, Brian Cummins, Mark Harley, Paul Jones, Kenny Farrell, Marc Kenny, Matty Devlin, Jose Ibanez, Ste Penn and Josh Boekhoudt.
A lot of singers and bands covering a lot of different genres include George Gallagher, Asa Murphy, Steve Charles, Soul Jam, Gary Barker, Scott Johns, Kelly-Ann Lea, Steph Hodge, Joe Speare, Camilla Connelly, Jackie Barker, Al Benson, Phil Jones, Gary Brown, Cath Carter, Alex McGrath, Leonie Jakobi, Jay Murray, Sienne, The Hummingbirds, Angela Inkson, Mark Bloor, Billy Strand, Alan Strand, Earl Preston, Arthur Kerevan, Stevie Hodge, Motel Sundown, Rosalie Galvin, Michelle Lawson, Dani Graham, Alan Lee and Sandi Collins.
The video also includes a local ukulele group ‘Broken Strings’ performing a reprise during the credits and an image of Cy Tucker, a local rock n roll artist who sadly passed away earlier in 2020. The song and video were wholly recorded at the artists homes or chosen areas around Liverpool including The Hard Days Night Hotel, The Cavern, Anglican Cathedral, and Grand Central Hall.
There are also cameo appearances from local DJ Billy Butler and the children of both Tony Cook and Brian Ambrose.