One of the unfortunate consequences of the current lockdown has been a dramatic rise in domestic violence and charities are struggling to keep up with the increase in calls for help.

The Blue Highways, started planning a cover of the classic Van Morrison track “Days Like This” to raise money for leading charity: Women’s Aid.

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Wanting to maximise its potential to raise as much money as possible, they wondered if other UK Americana artists might like to contribute their voices and/or their instruments.

They got a fantastic response and the final list of artists reads like the line-up of a who’s who of British Americana, including vocals from the likes of Emily Barker, Robert Vincent, Pete Gow, Issy Ferris & Archie Sylvester, Lukas Drinkwater as well as Callum and Theo Lury from The Blue Highways.

The Blue Highways recorded the core track and then called upon the instrumental skills of Henry Senior (pedal steel), Lewis Fowler (guitar), Jake Stanton (drums), Rhona Carse (trumpet), Archie Sylvester (guitar) and Eddy Smith (organ). Together, they have given the song a new, distinctive sound.

“We chose the song because it somehow seemed apt. None of us have seen, or expected to see, days like this, and its message of coping with both the ups and downs of life reflects the current day-to-day reality for so many people” said Callum Lury, lead singer of The Blue Highways.

Translating the idea into a recording was the next challenge for the band. With even the four members of The Blue Highways being in three different houses and the guest stars spread right across the country, it has been down to technology and the expert mixing skills of Julien Baraness to deliver a completely new and unique interpretation of the track.

The band has put together a video of the artists performing from their respective homes alongside the track which is being pushed across social media. They are asking their audiences to donate to the #SupportSurvivors campaign to keep Women’s Aid’s Live Chat service available during this crucial period. The MP3 will also be made available to all individuals that donate.

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Days like this was first released by Van Morrison in 1995 on the album of the same name.

Women’s Aid is a registered UK charity which has created a grassroots federation that works together to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.

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