A charity single released by Tiree's embryonic trad octet Skerryvore, and friends, has soared to the top of both the official UK download and the Scottish Singles Charts.
The special video and track in aid of NHS workers fighting COVID-19 was released on Thursday, April 9 to coincide with the Clap for Carers tribute applause and racked up more downloads than any other track in the UK across Easter weekend.
Featuring around 20 names across the Scottish music scene, as well as some well-known faces, the track entitled Everyday Heroes was composed by Skerryvore piper Martin Gillespie and recorded remotely in different locations during the ongoing lockdown.
This morning, Saturday, April 18, the track was at number three on the download chart, having already been at NO1, number 15 in the Big Top 40 chart and No 1 in the Scottish Singles chart – and the musicians involved are calling on the public to continue to get behind the track and support the worthy cause.
"attachment_296722" "" "300"] Martin Gillespie
'It's been an incredible week. Never did I imagine a few weeks back when i composed the piece that it would have had this response,' said Martin.
'We asked everyone to play Everyday Heroes on Thursday night at 8pm for clap for carers and the response was amazing, we have been inundated with videos. Then to cap it off yesterday (Friday) we were at number one in the Official Scottish Singles Charts!'
The video is available on YouTube where there is a donate option for viewers, with all proceeds going towards the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjrAfy2v63c
'It’s not every day you top the charts and it goes to show the respect we all hold for the NHS and the power of music during difficult times,' added Martin who is surviving lockdown on his own in Glasgow.
'We hope people have found some comfort listening to the track and can enjoy it knowing that all proceeds are going to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal.
Among those who appear in the Everyday Heroes video are all of the members of Skerryvore, Innes Scott of Peat and Diesel, BBC Take the Floor Presenter and member of Mànran Gary Innes, Robert Robertson of Tide Lines, Harry Richards of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Skipinnish’s
Angus MacPhail and Rory Grindlay, Ian Smith and Seonaidh Macintyre from fellow Tiree band Trail West, Mhairi Wood of Skara, alongside political aide and journalist Alastair Campbell.
The track was arranged, mixed and mastered by Scott Wood of Skerryvore and Mhairi Wood and released on Tyree Records in one just one week.
The ‘Everyday Heroes’ video is available to view on YouTube. The track is available to buy, stream and download on all major platforms. All proceeds from any digital downloads go to the charity fund.
You can donate to the NHS Charities COVID-19 Urgent Appeal at:
virginmoneygiving.com/fund/NHSCharitiesCOVID19
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