On Ilkla Moor Baht 'At for Yorkshire Day!
A star-studded new version of On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘At featuring a rap by a film star has been released today, on Yorkshire Day, to showcase the county worldwide.
The track is Yorkshire’s own national anthem and has been reworked to breathe life into the piece of cultural heritage.
It follows an initial campaign by music teacher and musical director, Gordon Eddison from Otley, to raise awareness of the anthem after it was suggested only 10 per cent of young people in the UK’s biggest county were even aware of the song.
The new version features a collection of Yorkshire stars; it includes a rap by film and stage actor Brian Blessed, vocals by soprano Lesley Garrett and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, music from the Grimethorpe Colliery Band and vocals from the Yorkshire choir Rock Up and Sing.
X Factor singer and Yorkshire Regiment soldier Jonjo Kerr also features on the track and profits will go to the Heroes Children Fund charity (of which Jonjo is a patron), the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Yorkshire Regiment’s charity.
It has been produced by Artistic Producer on The X-Factor, Eliot Kennedy. The Sheffield-based songwriter has written and recorded with some of the world’s biggest acts including Take That and the Spice Girls.
Eliot Kennedy said: “When you get down to it, it’s actually a beautiful song – a gorgeous folk song that you can’t help but sing along to. It’s been in my head all the time since we started this project. I hope this version with a modern twist will take it to a new, younger audience.”
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “This is a great chance for us all to breathe new life into Yorkshire’s very own national anthem. It’s a fun, collaborative mix with plenty of twists on the original. We hope it will capture the hearts of not only everyone in Yorkshire but also the UK and worldwide.”
The project has been commissioned by Welcome to Yorkshire with support from Bradford Council and created and managed by Harrogate agency Cause UK.
The track will be available to download on Yorkshire Day (August 1) on iTunes and a video is available to watch on You Tube at www.youtube.com/user/welcometoyorkshire
Video link: www.youtube.com/user/welcometoyorkshire
Twitter handle: @WELCOME2YORKS
Hashtag: #yorkshireanthem
