Four stars of stage, screen and TV will come together on the eve of the birthday of the NHS for a second virtual concert in support of the Tameside and Glossop Scanner Appeal.
The big name line-up comes from the worlds of opera, pop and rock and West End theatre and when approached were all delighted to offer their time and talents for free in support of the cause.
The event, which will premiere on YouTube on Saturday night at 8pm, will culminate with a special performance of the anthem We Applaud You, chosen to represent the way the nation feels about the NHS and the way it has coped throughout the Covid-19 crisis.
The online concert follows hot on the heels of the first online fundraiser organised just a few weeks ago and headlined by Britain’s Got Talent Star Colin Thackery who was joined by local singing stars.
That concert was organised to kick-start the £1m Tameside Hospital Scanner Appeal, fundraising events having been paused by the lockdown.
The online event proved so popular that organisers have decided to do it all over again, but this time with a new line-up, although the second concert will once again be compèred by Tameside Radio breakfast show host Scott Bruton (pictured below).
This time Captain Gary Chilton will open the concert. He shot to fame with the group The Soldiers. Their album was an overnight success and topped the music charts for several weeks. More recently he became the first British-serving soldier to release a solo single.
Also performing will be David Barnes who first came to public attention when he appeared on the TV hit show The Voice and was mentored by Ricky Wilson, from the Kaiser Chiefs. Since the show he has sung and played with many other top level musicians, including Jools Holland, Catherine Jenkins, Russell Watson and JLS.
Colin Roy is a singer, songwriter and actor.
He has had leading roles in West End theatre, including Soul Train, Five Guys Named Mo and Sweet Charity. And he has toured the UK, Europe, America, Asia and Australia with various productions, including his own hit show The House That Nat Built – a celebration of the legendary Nat King Cole.
Completing the line-up is acclaimed British soprano, Christina Johnston. She’s earned the nickname The Nightingale and performed all over Europe, Asia and South America and before the presidents of the Czech Republic and China.
Hospital Chief Executive Karen James says the much-needed scanner will improve the way doctors and nurses are able to diagnose, treat and better understand the needs of patients in the borough.
She explained: “Of all the equipment on my list of priorities this is top. I am so grateful to these wonderful singers for their kindness.
“They are not familiar with our hospital or our borough, but they understand our need and wanted to help. The coronavirus pandemic has set back our fundraising ambitions, but we are determined to get things back on track.”
To tune into the concert search Tameside and Glossop Sing for the Scanner 2 or key in https://youtu.be/dE1JofZWTOQ. To donate go to https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tangscanner.
Main image:
(clockwise from top left) Christina Johnston, David Barnes, Colin Roy and Gary Chilton.
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