Jape, Villagers and The Kanyu Tree are the first batch of acts to be confirmed for this year’s Sound Training Centre charity covers album, which will once again benefit The Simon Community.

The collection, which has as its theme “Motown, soul, rhythm and blues”, will be recorded during April and May and include a communal singalong version of Ben E. King’s ‘Stand By Me’.

Last year’s Silver Lining effort has sold 61,000 units on iTunes alone, and spawned a monster hit in the form of James Vincent McMorrow’s re-working of ‘Higher Love’. The soundtrack to Amazon’s LOVEFILM.com advert, it’s generated €60,000 in royalties, which James has generously donated to this most worthwhile of causes.