BARROW’S answer to Band Aid has released another Christmas song which has attracted thousands of views online in just a few days.

John Rennie, from Barrow, has penned another Christmas track to remember those we’ve lost and highlight the importance of togetherness during the festive period.

The singer-songwriter released his original tune ‘Don’t Cancel Christmas Again’ last year alongside a video filmed in Barrow town centre.

And this year the musician’s band, Band in Dystopia, has returned with another festive hit with a little help from some of his talented friends.

He said: “It all started last year when we released our first Christmas charity single, ‘Don’t Cancel Christmas Again’. We used the release to raise money for Mind-in-Furness on behalf of my uncle Dave who tragically took his own life during the lockdown of April 2020.

READ MORE: Music video filmed in Barrow town centre receives 'amazing' response

“Last year’s song all came about at the last minute. But despite releasing the song four days before Christmas, we raised just over £1000. It got me thinking that with an early December release and wider community involvement, we could raise much more with a new Christmas song for 2022.

“I was also on a bit of a high from the response to last year’s track so I got to work on ‘Light a Candle’ in January. Around the same time, I was working on the ‘Our Barra Town’ poem and video with my school pal, Sally Ann Staunton.

“Working on that project taught me the power of community and collaboration. So, I wanted to get the local music scene involved in this year’s Christmas song to show off what talent and great community spirit we have here. Barrow’s own Band Aid seemed like the perfect idea for that.

“I wanted to write a song about people like my uncle who have passed on in the last couple of years. So, the song calls on us all to ‘light a candle for the angels’ to remember loved ones who are no longer with us and to promote community and togetherness at the coldest and darkest time of year.”

Mr Rennie recorded a demo version of ‘Light a Candle’ and received a hugely positive response, welcoming singers to his house every day in November to record various vocal parts.

South Lakes Rock School’s adult choir also agreed to partake in the recording and feature in the video which was filmed by Mr Rennie and Ste Harrison, and has amassed more than 2,000 views on YouTube

Mr Rennie said: “Like the original 1984 Band Aid video, the Light a Candle music video tells the story of how the song was created: from the vocals recorded at my house, to studio scenes at the Nan Tait, to the choir at SLRS, to the finale in front of the wonderful Christmas lights at Abbey House as a celebration of the project. We love how it all turned out.”

 The track features the voices of talented friends: Jon Byrne, Jonny Swift, Olivia Dacre, John Millar, Mollie Harper, Jack Dale, Amy Jones, Jamie Bosanko, Pete Buckley and the South Lakes Rock Choir.

Together, the group is raising money for Barrow Foodbank, Furness Homeless Support Group and Mind in Furness.

The singers are also raising funds for St Mary's Hospice on behalf of local singer, Jorgie Wilson, who sadly lost her father around the time they were producing the track.

The group is hoping to raise £4,000 - £1,000 each for the four charities.

You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lightacandle

To watch the video, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA7AqpIkBN4