If you pop into your local HMV or Virgin you should be able to pick up Stand Together by Playing For Change. It'll cost £3 and can also be purchased through the Playing For Change website. It was released on Monday, 24 January. A batch of 60 of the CDs were recently stolen and those involved with the record have asked people not to buy them if they're offered them but don't don't have a sticker on them. Check out our cracking gallery of pictures from the five days of recording the charity single by clicking on the Band Aid gallery link on the right. And most of the acts involved with the track are to perform at a charity concert at the Colosseum in February. Band Aid  | | Recording in the studio |
Rob Halligan was the brainchild behind the recording project, dubbed a mini or local Band Aid, and was responsible for the song that the acts will record. Rob lost his father in the 9/11 attacks on New York and subsequently penned the song Stand Together. Although you can hear it on his album Dancing With Seagulls Rob felt that the song could be recorded as a charity record by local artists before the tsunami struck. He said: “When Band Aid 20 came along we joked that if Coventry were to do something similar who would get involved. “I had previously thought of releasing the record before the tsunami for other charities like Amnesty. “I started posting my idea on messageboards as well as sending out emails and word has spread”. Getting invovled Indeed it did, with interviews on television, radio and websites, Rob found much support for his project. Paul Johnson and Steve Clark at J10 Studios were quick to get involved by offering five days free use of their facility on the Fletchamstead Highway. The two of them along with Rob were holed up at the studio until late on Monday, 10 January when the track was finished, ready for pressing.  | | Setting up the drums |
The long (and thankfully not too chaotic) process of recording started on Thursday, 6 January when the drums, guitar and bass tracks were all laid, before members from a variety of bands came along to record vocals. In the end 19 bands, which equated to around 30 artists, laid down 100 audio tracks for the single. Of the bands taking playing their part for the charity record were some of our previously featured bands like Beneva, The Satin Dolls and Lowdrive. Others included Spotlight Kid, The Sequins, De souter, Beneva, Trailer, Lowdrive, Olivia and Lucy, Big Bus Groovy, Satin Dolls, Resound, Mercurial, Acre Skye, Vacant Fear Centre, The Way, Mawda and Kristy. Oh, and Rob himself too! Check out the musicians who got involved with the project by viewing our cracking picture gallery. Simply click on the Band Aid gallery link on the right. Speaking to Paul and Rob on the Monday, both admitted they had been bowled over by the enthusiasm and support they'd received from all of those involved with Stand Together. Rob said: "The most enjoyable bit has been when Blake from Resound kept turning up every day, simply because he wanted to help out and be involved".  | | Working on the desk in the studio |
Paul added: "What summed it up for me was when The Sequins came along on Saturday night after everyone had gone. They just wanted to listen to the track so I played it again for them". Raising money Having already raised £2,000 to cover duplication costs, Rob has enough to get the song pressed, with any left over going back in the charity coffers. Rob added: “We’re going to get 5,000 CD’s pressed and sell them in all local HMVs and Virgins, maybe looking at their national stores too”. The record has been available from Monday, 24 January and will retail at £3. As well as record shops you can purchase the single from the Playing For Change website. Live Aid If the single project is being called Band Aid then Richard Elms and the Colosseum will be putting on a local version of Live Aid next month. All the rooms at the Primrose Hill Street venue in Coventry will be opened up from 6pm on Sunday, 6 February as 30 bands/singers/DJ’s are set to play their part in raising money for the victims of the natural disaster. Most of the acts involved with Stand Together will be performing, with many involved with the evening's finale - a live performance of the charity song itself. We'll have more details about the event soon. In the meantime why not check out our gallery of pictures from the recording of Stand Together. Simply click on the Band Aid gallery link on the right. | 
