Dublin Simon Community and creative partner Collective Films launched The Busk Record , an album featuring once-in-a-lifetime performances from Bono, Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Lisa O’Neill and many more.
On Wednesday 9th November 2022 , Dublin Simon Community and Collective Films shared the album’s lead single ‘Astronaut ’ by Damien Rice with accompaniment from Glen Hansard & Rónan O’Snodaigh , which is available now across all digital streaming platforms.
The Busk Record is available to preorder now from www.thebuskrecord.com and will be released on Friday 9th December 2022 on vinyl at a cost of €27.95 with proceeds going to Dublin Simon Community to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Dublin and the surrounding counties.
The album will also be available on all major streaming platforms thanks to Universal Music Ireland, who have donated their services pro-bono to the project. Support has also come from physical stores such as Golden Discs who will donate all their profits from the record sales to the charity.
The recording of The Busk Record was captured over two nights in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin in December 2021, when a host of artists came together to lend their talents to Dublin Simon Community as Covid restrictions meant the charity’s annual Christmas Eve Busk couldn’t happen in-person. The Busk 2021 was streamed on YouTube on Christmas Eve last year, with individual artists being supported by The Busk Choir; an assembly of artists, crew, Dublin Simon staff & volunteers and service users who were present at the recording.
The Busk Record, which runs at 49 minutes and 8 seconds in total and retails at €27.95 with proceeds going to Dublin Simon Community, is a double-sided 140g vinyl made from zero waste ecomix recycled PVC, with a gloss finish 505 micron PEFC certified board sleeve. All artists have given permission for their music to be used to raise vital funds for Dublin Simon this Christmas. The full track list is as follows:
Side A
- Running to Stand Still – Bono & The Busk Choir
- Goodnight World – Lisa O’Neill
- Astronaut – Damien Rice
- In the Half-Light – Laura Quirke
- Fitzcarraldo – The Frames
- Young Soldier – Adam Mohammed
Side B
- Forever Young – Liam O’Maonlai, Lisa O’Neill & The Busk Choir
- Ní Ceadmhach Neamhshuim – Louise Mulcahy & Manchán Magan
- Lily – Big Love
- Tá’n t’Ádh Liom – Rónan O’Snodaigh, Myles O’Reilly & Stephen James Smith
Collective Films’ Mark Logan says:
“Ever since we first partnered with Dublin Simon two years ago I’ve been consistently amazed by the magic that can happen when a group of talented people are united by passion for a vital cause.
“We’ve achieved unbelievable things together, from remastering a Phil Lynott classic to pulling off a once-in-a-lifetime performance from artists far and wide in 12 days and under Covid-19 restrictions. We are driven to keep supporting Dublin Simon every time we pass a person in hardship on the street or hear horror stories of people being evicted from their homes.
“It was a no-brainer that we would commit ourselves again this year to playing our role in alleviating the homeless crisis and raising funds for a cause we feel so deeply about. We’re excited to be able to put out an amazing record which captures such an important moment in time; a time when artists from all corners of the country and beyond came together, many of whom were grieving their own losses and situations under Covid-19, for something that was bigger than them.”
Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dublin Simon Community says:
“We are so grateful to everyone involved in the creation and promotion of The Busk Record. When Covid-19 struck, we thought that was the greatest challenge we had ever faced, but the reality is that our greatest challenge lies before us.
“Devastatingly, a record-breaking number of people will spend this Christmas in homelessness. As housing supply remains at an all-time low, these people will have no indication of how many more Christmases will be passed this way. Several more will pass their Christmas at home in fear that it may be their last as the Cost-of-Living crisis pushes more and more people below the breadline.
“We are putting everything we can into moving people out of homelessness and keeping them in their homes where they belong, but we need all the help we can get. The sales of this record will fund the continuation of our services and serve as a glimmer of hope to the over 6,000 people relying on our help.”
