Classic Simple Minds in focus at Harrogate's Vinyl Sessions soon

Taking place on Wednesday, April 29 and live streamed via Zoom, the weekly fundraising event for Harrogate Hospital which has raised £500 so far through its first two events on REM and ELO, will this time turn to Scottish group Simple Minds.

First released in September 1982 on Virgin, New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) transformed the Glasgow group from cult band beloved by the NME, to a mainstream outfit which would shortly capture the world.

Blessed with the band's first true hit single, Promised You A Miracle and a shimmeringly optimistic spirit, this landmark album influenced heavily U2 at the time, as well as later bands such as the Manic Street Preachers.

"Everything is possible" was lead singer Jim Kerr's pledge in Promised You A Miracle and songs such as Someone Somewhere in Summertime and Glittering Prize suggested it was, at least for Simple Minds themselves.

Presented by hi-fi expert and organiser Colin Paine, each Vinyl Sessions event features a different classic album on powerful vintage audio equipment with an introductory talk by Graham 'Professor of Pop' Chalmers of the Harrogate Advertiser and a specially curated video by Jim Hobbs.

in total Vinyl Sessions has raised more than £12,000 for Friends of Harrogate Hospital & Harrogate Healthcare NHS Trust since it was first launched two years ago.

Each session features a different classic album on powerful vintage audio equipment with a talk and specially curated video.

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Previous Vinyl Sessions events have featured bestselling albums from the 1960s to late 1990s including Led Zeppelin IV, ELO’s Out of The Blue, Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, The Beatles Sgt Pepper, Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells, The Who’s Who’s Next, Oasis’s What’s The Story, Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and Blondie’s Parallel Lines.

A night devoted to David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust in 2018 even saw a personal appearance by the album's producer Ken Scott who was interviewed on stage by Graham Chalmers.

So far, the monthly Vinyl Sessions events, held at Starling Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen during normal times, have raised £12,000 for charity in the last two years.

Admission is free, though a donation of £5 to Friends of Harrogate Hospital is suggested via a PayPal button on the Vinyl Sessions website.

To join the event, book a place at Eventbrite.

For more details on Vinyl Sessions, visit www.vinylsessions.org

As well as next Wednesday's Simple Minds event, Colin Paine of Harrogate's Vinyl Sessions is also presenting a webcasted live every Friday evening of classic rock, pop and indie classics on vinyl.

The Pirate Radio show will run from 8pm to 10pm boasting five decades of hits from the likes of Genesis, Kate Bush, Killers, AC/DC, Paul Simon, ELO, Deep Purple, Status Quo, Oasis, REM, The Fratellis, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Tears for Fears, Blur and loads more.

Get the Zoom link for Pirate Radio by booking a free place on Eventbrite.

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