Band’s French connection was all thanks to Coats gig

A gig in Paisley’s historic Thomas Coats Memorial Church led to an Elderslie band’s special connection to the French town of Lourdes.

King of Birds played a fundraising concert at the under-threat church building earlier this year, performing songs from their debut album Eve of Destruction.

In the audience that night was Karen Parker from the St Margaret of Scotland Youth Group with fellow youth group leader Mhairi

Canning.

When Karen heard the band play May You Always Be Loved she immediately thought the track would be the perfect theme song for the group’s trip to the Pyrenees.

The band’s Charlie Gorman said:“We were taken aback when Karen approached us and told us about the absolutely amazing work the St Margaret Youth Group d.

“We were even more astonished when she asked if they could use the track on their trip.

“We were absolutely delighted and honoured to be asked.”

The St Margaret of Scotland Youth Group was founded in 1976 and is committed to working with sick pilgrims on who make the journey Lourdes.

More than 80 young people every year give up their summer holiday to go to Lourdes to work in the hospital and assist the elderly and the infirm.

A week or so after the Coats show, Charlie sent the lyrics and music over to Karen.

A few weeks later he received a copy of a video of the group choir performing May You Always Be Loved in France.

“It was absolutely stunning,”Charlie said.

“I don’t know what I was expecting but I really found it pretty emotional – a combination of the contrast in the arrangements and the context and quality of the performance.”

Karen said:“When we heard the band play the song at Coats Memorial, I thought it was beautiful and that the lyrics really resonated with the values we hold at the youth group.

“I decided to approach Charlie and his brother Stirling to ask if they would be happy for us to perform the song.

“They have been fantastically supportive and helpful and I think we’re all really delighted with how it turned out.”

The video of the performance can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/ smsygglasgow/