Street Arts Project, a non-profit charity working with the homeless and vulnerable of Stratford upon Avon, will be releasing their new album ‘Wake Me Up Tomorrow’ on January 14th.

The album is the culmination of two years workshops throughout the lockdowns and features Street Arts Project’s participants and professional musicians, Nigel Clark (frontman of ‘90s Britpop legends Dodgy), Wes Finch and Jack Blackman. 

The 13 songs on ‘Wake Me Up Tomorrow’ tackle the themes of addiction, loneliness, boats, mental health problems, isolation, even 19th century dentistry! 

The workshops, funded by Stratford Town Trust, support attendees to write lyrics, poems, a piece of music, or simply a page of thoughts, that are then crafted into songs.

Doug Armstrong, Facilitator said “We give a voice to experiences and feelings and a chance to unlock a creativity that the participants hadn't previously known how to articulate or share. Fun, at times bizarre, occasionally sad, but always real. Just like life.”

The first single is the title track, ‘Wake Me Up Tomorrow’ featuring lyrics by Jonas, originally from Lithuania. Jonas spent years sleeping rough in a tent.

Wake Me Up Tomorrow

10. January Blues

9. Land Of The Unknown

8. Good Friends

7. Normal Song

6. Song For Lily Mae

5. Dream Song

4. Gilly

3. Recovery

2. Too Many Choices

1. Make Time

A not-for-profit organisation that works with the homeless and socially vulnerable has received recognition from the John Lennon Estate for its reworking of the former Beatle’s 1970 song, ‘Isolation’.

Street Arts received the seal of approval via the official John Lennon Facebook page for their new release, which is intended to raise money for arts-based workshops with the homeless and isolated.

Recorded during the UK coronavirus lockdown by twenty-nine musicians who never met while working on the song, Street Arts’ version of ‘Isolation’ was organised by respected blues musician Jack Blackman, who delivers workshops for the project.

“The idea behind the song was to show that even in times of self-isolation, no one needs to be alone,” says Jack, whose own music has been described as "exceptional" by the BBC's Whispering Bob Harris.

“Every penny raised from the download and stream of this track will go to support homeless, socially isolated and vulnerable people.”

The track, which is an arrangement of a John Lennon song, is available on all digital platforms. Its accompanying video, produced by Jack’s brother Euan, who is studying at LIPA in Liverpool, gathered more than 40,000 views within its first four days on Facebook.

The recording features musicians including Nigel Clark from 90's Britpop band Dodgy - who will be 'Staying In For the Summer!' - and singer-songwriters Wes Finch, Marion Fleetwood (Meet on the Ledge), Jen Waghorn and Dan Hartland amongst many others.

The approval of the John Lennon Estate has come as a huge boost for the project, says its manager, Doug Armstrong. “We are really proud of the track and it deserves to be heard! And of course most importantly we hope to raise funds for when we can return to working with our service users following lockdown.

“Any support for us and this song is therefore hugely welcome – and to have the recognition of John Lennon’s official site itself is wonderful”

The song has also been praised by American jazz legend Curtis Stigers who tweeted, “This is beautiful. Bravo!” and BBC radio legends Janice Long and Marc Riley.

“There’s a section of the song where the voices of several Street Arts users can be heard,” Jack adds, “and for me that’s a really important part of the work we do: we give the people we work with a voice, and ways to be heard. None of us need to be alone.”

At a difficult time for the world, Street Arts’ message is one that John Lennon himself might have sent, too.

—ENDS—
Notes for Editors
Interviews with Jack Blackman and Doug Armstrong are available.
Donations to Street Arts can also be made via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/streetarts

The Isolation video was launched via Facebook on Friday, May 22nd 2020. https:// www.facebook.com/105651430852517/videos/819384995257729/

The single artwork, a promotional poster and mp3 and wav audio files can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/uysjllpr7jnt1ff/AACal06-RjuoaCm_7LoEQsPna?dl=0

The official John Lennon Facebook page shared the charity’s video on Monday, 25th May. In addition to the Street Arts users, the song features a range of musicians including Jack Blackman, Nigel Clark, Wes Finch, Ben Haines, Ben Pike, Chessi O'Dowd, Dan Hartland, Euan Blackman, Geoff Carr, James Maguire, Jay Riley, Jen Waghorn, Joe Martin, Jon Doran, Laurel Mcintosh, Louis Scheuer, Marion Fleetwood, Mark Shields, Mia Rose, Peter Wearn, Rebecca Hallworth, Rob Bent and Sean Macreavy.

The single was mixed by Dom James and written by John Lennon.

Isolation

Street Arts Project

Popular tracks