INTERVIEW: Lancaster and Morecambe School Aid makes a real difference to local children

Friday, 10 February 2023 07:23

Blue Bay will be one of the acts performing at the 2023 School Aid event

The organiser of a fundraising music festival has told Beyond Radio that the event is having a positive impact on local schools.

Jay Blackburn said Lancaster and Morecambe School Aid has helped to give children "important experiences they may not otherwise have".

Last year's School Aid raised £4,400 from donations, raffles and auctions, which was divided between West End Primary, Morecambe Bay Primary, St Luke's Primary and St Patrick's Primary Schools.

The money has been spent on helping to fund breakfast clubs, revamping a school music department with new instruments, creating an outdoor sensory learning area, and on a school trip to museums in Liverpool.

This year's School Aid runs from today (Friday February 10) until Sunday February 12.

Live music will come from The Bobbin in Lancaster and The Exchange in Morecambe, with bands, singers and DJs giving up their time to perform to help raise money for local schools.

LISTEN to Jay Blackburn talking to Beyond Radio's Greg Lambert about the 2023 School Aid

Jay is pictured right performing with The Good Souls at School Aid 2022

School Aid has been extended to three days for the first time and starts on Friday night with the West End Soul Club at The Exchange on Regent Road in Morecambe.

DJs Jamie Bell, Daz Mount, Paul 'Soul' Johnson, Tony Simon, Nigel Rothwell, Nick Duffy and Jay Blackburn will spin your favourite soul tunes in the upstairs suite at the pub. It runs from 7pm until midnight and admission is £3, or £5 for two people.

Then on Saturday at The Bobbin, there will be live music from noon until midnight, hosted by Beyond Radio's Phill Hayward.

Acts appearing will include Lauren McKenzie, Tom Woods, Dara Woods, Graham Mumford, Jay Blackburn, The Nighs, Inadequate Flaws, Supersonic Kicks, The Good Souls, No Agenda, Yheti, The Glass Poppies and Kiwi.

And School Aid rounds off on the Sunday at The Exchange from noon until midnight, hosted by Greg Lambert from Beyond Radio.

Acts appearing will include Longshot, Jason Mcloughlin, Carlie Mai, Stuart Michaels (pictured below performing with his friend Alfie at School Aid 2022) Benni Beard, Stevie Wren, Three Chord Truth, The Good Souls, Union City, Blue Bay, Antiks, Fuse and Indifferent Monkey.