Irish acts form 'Street Lights' to raise funds for homeless

A host of Irish musicians have joined forces under the name of Street Lights to create a single and album that will generate funds for the homeless.

The first single has been released in the shape of a cover of Simon and Garfunkel's 'Homeward Bound'. The song was recorded in Camden Studios with producer Cian Boylan, and features the likes of The High Hopes Choir, Gary Lightbody, Cathy Davey, Villagers, Loah, Bono, Roisin O, Join Me In The Pines, Saint Sister and Colm Mac Con Iomaire. The single is available now across all digital platforms, and will be followed by an album titled Street Lights set to be released next month. Additionally, people can also text 'street lights' to 50300 to donate a further €4 to the project.

Coming on the 7th of December, the record will consist of 15 carefully selected and crafted tracks, and on top of those featured on 'Homeward Bound' will also see songs from Bell X1, Snow Patrol, Saint Sister, Richard Hawley with Lisa Hannigan, James Vincent McMorrow, Damien Dempsey, Luka Bloom, Villagers, Stephen James Smith, David Gray, The Frames, Lisa O'Neill, Glenn & Ronan and Celtic Woman.

Peter McVerry Trust, Simon Community Ireland and Focus Ireland will be the recipients of all profits of the single and album sales, which they have agreed will go directly to rehoming and rehousing on a national level.

Speaking on the project, Peter McVerry Trust said: “It is brilliant to see so many people come together to help three charities working to provide solutions to the homeless crisis day in and day out. Any proceeds received from Peter McVerry Trust will be an enormous help to our work and the money raised will go into our housing led response to homelessness.”

Street Lights is the creation of Keith Troy of the Irish Housing Network and Sinead Troy of IASCA/Yangaroo, who worked alongside the likes of Aoife Woodlock (Other Voices and Music Producer) and Janine Nallen (CEO of Celtic Collections and Liffey Records) to bring the collective together.

Speaking about the Dublin Simon Community's involvement in the project, communications and marketing manager Annmarie Brennan said: “With the support of everyone involved, this will have a life changing impact to the lives of vulnerable people living in unimaginable circumstances. The funds raised will enable us to continue delivering more permanent homes, ensuring that people never have to face the uncertainty and anxiety of homelessness again.”

'Homeward Bound' is available now across all digital platforms, while the full album Street Lights will be available from Friday the 7th of December from all good record stores and across all digital platforms. Listen to the single below:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4LF3apza0XVlBvPMwYA06f