Local band chase Xmas No.1 spot The King Lot and Jolly Boys aim to top charts
A West Lothian rock band have been installed as second favourites for this year’s Christmas No.1.
The King Lot were approached by Livingston social group The Jolly Boys to team up and record a charity single in a bid to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis.
Their cover of ‘Wings’ by American group Tyketto, which has already raised £ 2000 for chosen charity the MS Society Scotland, will be available on pre-order from Monday, November 24.
And bookies Paddy Power have priced the band at 10/1 behind the X-Factor for the coveted top spot this Christmas. Chris Gillon, drummer for The King Lot, said: “When The Jolly Boys asked if we’d like to be involved, I think it took us all of two seconds to reply yes.
“The fact we would be raising funds for the MS Society and people living with MS was a huge factor in our decision to get involved, because some of us have a personal connection to MS.
“We were stunned but obviously delighted with the odds. We expected ours to be very long but when you consider the numbers in terms of support for this, it does make sense.
“It very quickly made the whole thing real. Getting it there is a whole different thing but we will give every last drop of energy to make sure we achieve the goal.”
The Jolly Boys are a group of likeminded friends who travel between Livingston and Yorkshire watching football matches.
This will be their second attempt at the Christmas No.1 after they teamed up with Barnsley band Jagged Edge last year.
It was a partnership that ended up releasing their version of Danger Danger’s 1989 hit Naughty Naughty.
And despite missing out on the top spot, they managed to raise more than £1000 for Diabetes UK.
This year The Jolly Boys are hoping to go one better by beating Simon Cowell’s talent show winner.
Tony Green of The Jolly Boys said: “As The MS Society is The Jolly Boys’ chosen charity for 2016, we wanted to do something that would raise the most money and awareness.
“For The Jolly Boys, this is a chance to prove that whatever age, background or mobility level, music can be a great leveller. We are really looking forward to going into the studio and having some fun with it.
“Singing with The King Lot will be amazing and hitting their musical standards will be a big challenge for us but we all have the one aim – to go for the Christmas No.1 on behalf of the MS Society and that will drive us through.”
Morna Simpkins, director for MS Society Scotland, said: “We are delighted that The King Lot featuring The Jolly Boys are bidding for the Christmas No.1 slot in aid of the MS Society.
“This is a fundraising venture which is fun, unique and something which we can all get involved in by purchasing the single.
“We wish both The King Lot and The Jolly Boys the very best of luck and would like to thank them once again for their passion, hard work and dedication in raising awareness of MS on such a large scale.”
Some of us have a personal connection to MS