BOILER AID
Engineer gets stars all fired up for £1m charity concert
A gas engineer who has got Liam
Gallagher and Sam Smith to take out £ 700,000 to Rashford’s Fare Share, part in an online music festival
£100,000 has gone to Help Musicians and organised from his bedroom
£200,000 to Stagehand, which cares for live has helped raise £1million for production workers during times of crisis. good causes. Net profits from ticket sales will also be John Soutar, 51, from Milton of Campsie, split among the three charities.
East Dunbartonshire, has been fixing Authors Ian Rankin and Nick Hornby people’s boilers while convincing music’s and Old Trafford ace Rashford are among biggest names to take part in the virtual the big names who will host the online show to raise funds for worthy causes, festival. Other music acts include English including Manchester Utd star chart-toppers The Blossoms and Marcus Rashford’s charity. US rockers Counting Crows and He approached the Co-op for Flogging Molly. Most of the sponsorship in November and performances have already been was stunned when the retailer filmed at venues around the world. agreed instead to make a According to Saul, whose band seven- f igure donation to James will also perform, the event charities on behalf of the event will have a format similar to BBC called Music Feeds. TV show Later With Jools Holland. John and his pal, UllapoolHe said: “At Music Feeds you’ll basedbased rockrockgguitarist Saul Davies get never-seen performances from of the band JJames, came up with leading artists, uncover new bands the idea whilwhile chatting on Zoom.
PITCHING IN and get up close and personal with They’veThey’vepepersuaded over 40 acts interviews. The festival will be Marcus Rashford to take part, including Charlotte broadcast to your Smart TV and Church and The View’s Kyle Falconer. devices over two nights and festival-goers John said: “I work for HomeServe, looking can even join the sofa mosh pit via the after plumbersp and boiler engineers, simultaneous Twitter listening party. but II’ve been a music fan all my life. “Artists who were unable to perform have “II’ve been doing the day job while donated unique items for a charity auction.” orgaorganising the festival. This week Jo Whitfield, CEO, Co- op Food, said: I had to tell my company what I’ve “Hunger knows no borders and neither been doing as it’s going to take up should our response. All year round, Co-op a lot of time. They have been works to tackle food hunger and we’re very supsupportive. thrilled to be uniting with outstanding “I’ve been friends with musicians from across the world to turn Saul fofor years. I’m a fan of up the volume on the issue.” his baband. As we chatted Tickets to the festival on January 28 and about food poverty, we 29 are available from DICE. fm and John came up with the idea of and Saul hope 100,000 people will tune in. puttputting on a gig. The Saul added: “With a £15 ticket giving access line-up is astounding. to both nights, it is priced to allow as many “WWe decided to ask people as possible to support the causes.” the Co- op for £ 20,000 Martin Holloway, of HomeServe, said: to ccover our costs. They “John is always first in line to get behind gavegav us £1million to important causes. He’s a trusted member givegiv to charities.” of the HomeServe family and a brilliant The Co-op has paid human being. We’re so proud of him.”
up The line- astounding. is goers Festival- join can even the sofa mosh pit