Listowel’s Aiden prompts formation of ‘supergroup’ for special PPE charity gig
WHO said that everything about the COVID-19 lockdown was bad?
This is the feeling this week after it was revealed that some of the hottest acts in Irish music have pooled their considerable music skills and talent together to form a ‘supergroup’ to help raise funds for PPE for charity run nursing homes.
Amongst just some of the high profile names and groups that have joined forces are: - The Frank & Walters
- Jerry Fish
- Delorentos
- Columbia Mills
- John Spillane - HamsandwicH - Mundy
- The Riptide Movement and many more.
The group have recorded a cover of Bill Withers’ classic ‘Lean on Me’ to raise money to help provide PPE for charity-run nursing homes.
The idea was initiated by Listowel man Aiden O’Connor, along with the help of Paul Linehan from The Frank and Walters. Aiden of course is well known and respected in music circle right around the country thanks to his ownership of the Hot Press/IMRO-award winning venue Mike the Pies.
Together the duo have brought together some of the most popular names in Irish music to record the track and a unique Zoom video which is set for release this Friday; the track itself was released on Monday and it is now available to listen to on all music platforms.
Despite the challenges of remote recording due to the COVID19 lockdown, Aiden and Paul have managed to pull it off and are looking forward to hearing the reaction to the song later this week.
“When I heard that a local Nursing Home in Listowel, Aras Mhuire, weren’t receiving any PPE because they’re a charity, I thought I might be able to do something through music,” explains Aiden.
“I started texting around and got a great response. Paul Linehan was one of the first to respond but he made it more professional.
“A month later we have the finished product, with 15 bands/artists involved. Paul put the track together, mixed by Ber Quinn, mastered by Richard Dowling.”
PAUL Linehan picks up the story:
“This was all done by remote recording and we didn’t see each other for the whole time.
“When the backing track was in a rough stage I sent it to each artist to sing it and to send me a dry vocal. Most artists sang the whole song, I then put what I thought were their best parts on the song. It was like a jigsaw puzzle, but I did my best to make it sound as if we were all singing in the same room, coming from the same direction.”
Anyone who wishes to donate towards the cause can do so by heading over to the fundraising link on The Kerryman’s Facebook page.