Heartwarming LS18 Rocks song blasted across Horsforth in bid for Christmas number one

LS18 Rocks hope their festive track Virtual Hugs (There’s No One Quite Like You Grandma) will bag the top slot as the city rallies behind the young band.

Children from the real-life school of rock took inspiration from the classic 1980’s St Winifred’s Choir anthem to pen their own song about how much they have missed seeing their grandparents during the pandemic.

Rev Nigel Sinclair, vicar of St Margaret’s Church in Leeds, was so blown away by the track that he offered to blast the song from the church PA to inspire people across Leeds to download the song and get it to number one.

The song was played from the top of the church's spire and the Old King's Arms pub at 2pm on Sunday.

Residents were encouraged to stand on their doorsteps and listen to the song as a sign of appreciation of all the sacrifices grandparents have made during the year.

Rev Sinclair said: “It’s such a great song and I absolutely love the message behind it about keeping grandparents safe this Christmas time. Of course we all want to be together physically but it will have to be virtual hugs this year.

“It would be fantastic if LS18 Rocks could get this to number one, the charts are full of old Christmas songs but this is something different, and it is so current to the situation."

The Old King's Arms landlady Lyndsey Acaster-Clarke has decorated the pub window in support of the young musicians.

Her six-year-old daughter Noa plays for the group's youngest band, Solar Jets, and appears in the music video.

Lydnsey said: “She adores it, it’s amazing for a six-year-old to be a part of that.

“We’ve always supported LS18 Rocks at the pub, it’s been rubbish through lockdown and the kids have loved being a part of it.

“We’d love people to buy the song and stream it on Spotify, YouTube and Amazon, get sharing and spreading the virtual hugs!”

Many of the young musicians, including lyricist Abby Warner, 14, have been unable to see their grandparents physically for over 10 months and face Christmas seeing them only on screens.

Guitarist Maddie Milner, 14, who also sang harmonies on the track, said before the event: “It is going to sound amazing hearing the song being played really loud across our whole town.

"We would love it if everyone across the UK joined in.

“I have missed seeing my own grandparents properly and giving them a hug this year so, so much and I know everybody feels the same. They were overcome with emotion when they heard the song and the sentiment behind the lyrics.”

The song Virtual Hugs is available on all streaming platforms and money raised will be donated to charities who support older people who have experienced loneliness and isolation this Christmas.

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