Squeeze front man opens up social club to raise funds for nurses

Chris Difford hosts online event this Saturday

An online musical community is aiming to raise funds for the UK’s doctors and nurses.

The Social Club opens its doors on Saturday, July 9. The brainchild of Squeeze frontman Chris Difford, the event will feature live music, special guests and “spuds on the bar”.

It is free to all-comers but donations to the Royal College of Nursing Foundation will be encouraged.

Last year, Chris curated the online album “Working on the Frontline” which also raised funds for nurses.

When I interviewed him on my Radio Reverb show he told me his hopes for the project were very basic.

He said: “I want people to enjoy the songs. I want people to enjoy the photography of Hannah Grace Deller that inspired the project in the first place, but also to donate to the Royal College of Nursing foundation. It’s very strange that our nurses should be buying their own equipment to work in.

“It was my idea to put it together with writers around the world, in Nashville, Austin, New Orleans and here in the UK.

Chris runs songwriting workshops from his home in Lewis and during a Zoom conference with all the writers who couldn’t make this year’s retreat he posed the question would everybody be up for writing songs over Zoom. From there the concept of the album grew.

Previous guests at The Social Club include Nile Rodgers, Elvis Costello, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Kathryn Williams. Who will be in the club on Saturday night. Sign up and find out!