'Live Aid' online concert to raise money for local foodbank

A ‘Live Aid’ style concert will be broadcast from two Lothian hotel sites this week in aid of a local foodbank.

The event, organised by Jim Henderson, who performs as DJ Edinburgh, aims to raise over £1,000 for the Drylaw food bank.

Performances will be recorded by a professional company and broadcast live on Friday and Saturday between 6.30pm and 8pm.

The event on Friday will take place in the grounds of Melville Castle hotel in Midlothian, and the Saturday concert will be at Houstoun House hotel in Livingston.

Mr Henderson said he wanted the beautiful locations to add atmosphere to the event, and took the opportunity to run it this weekend before the hotels reopen for general business.

The acts will perform in a socially distant manner and no spectators will be allowed into the area.

Alongside Mr Henderson as DJ Edinburgh the lineup will feature several local artists including saxophonist and piper The Kilted Sax, couple The Beautiful Divide and West Coast DJ Zandernation.

Some songs will be the originals from the 1985 Live Aid concert to raise money for those experiencing famine in Ethiopia.

There will also be covers and songs inspired by Rod Stewart, Amy Winehouse, Simple Minds, U2, Frank Sinatra, Adele and Olly Murs.

Each act will perform only three to four songs.

"It’s going to be short, sharp and cheesy,” said Mr Henderson.

He has been performing via Facebook Live as DJ Edinburgh throughout lockdown.

He invited requests and suggestions from viewers, and one was to organise a ‘Live Aid’ style concert.

Mr Henderson’s initial plan was to organiser a fundraiser for Drylaw food bank in Drylaw itself.

As well as the event planned for this weekend he is still in discussion with the council about these plans.

"It’s grown lots of legs,” he said of this weekend’s event.

"I’m hoping to exceed £1,000 in donations towards the local foodbank based at Drylaw church,” he said.

"Hopefully that amount of money will go a long way.

"As things are developing with the current situation, people are losing jobs, and more and more people are needing the food bank,” he said.