Memphis Stone and the Elevators has pledged to donate all proceeds of their new song, Summer to help the live events industry. Written in the first UK lockdown, the track is an ode to better times and the return of music festivals with all proceeds dedicated to MAKE IT BLUE.
Tom Weaver, the band’s bass player and co-writer said: “It’s a celebration of being in a field with thousands of other people and sharing the amazing experience of live music. So many of us have so many great memories from festivals and that’s what we wanted to capture in this song.
“At the same time, we know that thousands of technicians, engineers and production crews have been without work for over a year. Summer is dedicated to them and its proceeds will go to support their mental health. This is an industry that’s close to our hearts and we’re determined to try and do something to help people whose struggles will continue – today, tomorrow and for months to come.”
The band has nominated non-profit organisation MAKE IT BLUE to distribute funds raised by sales of the song. The organisation is the fund-raising arm of #MakeItBlue, the global mental health campaign sparked by the UK the events and entertainment industry at the start of the first lockdown.
MAKE IT BLUE Director, Tim Owen said: “While the industry is doing its best to open up again, the short to medium term future remains bleak for many as people suffer stress over debt and threatened homelessness. We’re trying to fund financial, emotional and therapeutic support for people struggling with mental health through COVID-19 imposed poverty.”
Tom Weaver added: “At the time we wrote ‘Summer’, MAKE IT BLUE had just launched its #lightitblue campaign for the NHS in the UK, but even then, we knew we wanted to release this single alongside them and try somehow to support the industry that has given us all so much.”
According to industry research, 93% of people in the live events industry have seen their income fall over the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAKE IT BLUE is promoting sales of the song via its JustGiving page. The song can be downloaded via streaming services.
