A well known Largs choral group is set to perform in Glasgow to raise funds for a charitable cause close to its conductor's heart.
The Upbeats are organising a big benefit concert in March, with two live bands, to support a close friend of the choir's conductor Craig Smith, head of music at Largs Academy for many years.
Craig's friend Stuart Gillan had a fall in 2019 that left him paralysed. Stuart is in rehabilitation but in crucial need of equipment including a powered standing chair.
The Upbeats want to fundraise to help Stuart improve his quality of life and his ability to work.
For the concert, The Upbeats have been very lucky to have access to a great venue in Glasgow, Drygate.
Four years in the making, all proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to ‘Stuart Gillan Spinal Fund’ to aid Stuart's hopeful recovery from paralysis.
For the first time, 'The Upbeats' choir is collaborating with 90's pop/rock band 'This Lonely Heart' and funk/soul band 'The Groovediggers' for The Stuart Gillan Benefit Concert.
Craig said: "Although the concert is not local to Largs, we have been doing a few charity concerts a year in Largs and the surrounding area for almost 10 years now.
"We have now raised over £10,000 for charities and we try to pick causes that are local or personal to us.
"Stuart is a close friend of mine and when I first visited him in hospital he was talking about a JustGiving page. I suggested we, the Upbeats, would do a concert for him.
"Then Covid hit, and here we are, four years on.
"When I first dreamed of the concert I thought it would be good to have a live band to accompany them.
"It dawned on me that those close to Stuart also made up the members of two former bands, the ‘Groovediggers’ and ‘This Lonely Heart’ .
"This event was born, and thanks to the husband of a choir member, we secured the Drygate venue free of charge, so all funds go to Stuart.
"The Upbeats members are almost totally made up of people from Largs and the surrounding area, with strong connections to the school through me.
"Stuart lives in Newton Mearns but is originally from north Glasgow, and we hope our regular audience who have supported our events over the years in Largs can make it up to the big night out at the Drygate in Glasgow for this important cause."
Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/stuartgillanconcert.
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