Simon Jones, former bass player with the Verve, decided to put a fresh twist on the Band Aid classic, Do They Know It’s Christmas? with all proceeds going to Claire House Children’s Hospice.

The song features exclusively north west and north Wales based artists and was recorded and mixed at Faktory Studios in Great Barrow, Cheshire. Everyone involved donated their time and talents.

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Filming, by Chester-based Veracity Digital, took place on Sunday, December 7, and the video was released on YouTube a week later.

On December 17, the producers were surprised and delighted to receive a personal e-mail from Midge Ure proclaiming the unique new version “a great spin on the song” and “stunning”.

He also passed on the congratulations of Bob Geldof, who said: “I am speechless. What extraordinary voices, what a beautiful understanding of the song. It takes me right back to the beginning and original. The piano arrangement is stunning, utterly utterly beautiful. A ‘well done everyone’ is completely inadequate, release this track immediately!”

BandAid 30 featured the film on their Facebook

Veracity managing director Andy Porter, who produced the film, was delighted with the response. He said: “It’s brilliant, at this time of year especially, to be able to do something like this. It’s a unique version of the song and to have such positive comments back from the original composers is just wonderful for all concerned – hopefully it will make people think and raise lots of money and awareness for Claire House”

The Veracity production team on the project was Andy Porter, Jordi Vidal Oliveras nd Sarah Swanston. Veracity is based in Chester and produces brand films, TV commercials and web films for a range of national and international clients.

The artists are re-uniting on Monday, December 22, live at the Tivoli in Buckley, North Wales to reprise the song at a fundraising concert.