Band play to Shrewsbury shoppers in aid of hearing loss

Hookstick, six-piece pop, soul and funk band based in Shropshire, will be playing to shoppers at Shrewsbury's Darwin Centre from noon to 2pm on Saturday.

The band is hoping to raise funds to support the charity Action On Hearing Loss, which caries out research and runs educational programmes.

Keyboardist Jane Lane said the band were also hoping to find someone fluent in sign language to join them for the gig, to sign the words along with the music.

She said the cause was close to her heart, as hearing loss had affected her father.

She said: "My father was not allowed to study music as a child, but he was passionate about classical music and apparently as a teenager played it very loud in his bedroom.

"In later life he moved over to jazz, we think probably because classical music began to sound distorted to him and his hearing deteriorated quite quickly.

"It also meant that he was quite an unpredictable character as he would often get the wrong end of the stick in a conversation.

"It has made me realise that hearing loss can be quite socially isolating, particularly when it's not recognised – and that the phenomenon of teenagers listening to loud music isn't a new one.

"I'm just keen that everyone at whatever end of the age spectrum realises the damage that can be done and that more money is invested into educational experiences which give the warnings before it's too late.

"It would also be good to support the work that's being done to correct hearing loss in older people and it would be nice to see this being given the same attention as sight loss.

"Unlike sight tests, hearing tests are not currently a routine thing. We're hoping to be giving out leaflets and earplugs whilst playing and collecting."

Jane is the songwriter for Hookstick and said fact the that music is often driven by the bass is not a co-incidence.

She said: "I also have a great interest in music for the hearing impaired, which is why I chose to place an emphasis in Hookstick music on the 'living bass lines' which would be more audible even where hearing loss is an issue."

The band is made up of vocalist Kerri-Anne Collins, guitarist Tom Stedman, bassist Rachael Townend, drummer and backing vocalist Jonny Welburn, and keyboardists Jane and Philip Lane of the Beehouse Recording Studio.

They will be playing tracks from their newly released album "Refugee" and will also be playing at Palmer's of Shrewsbury, in the Baptist Church on Claremont Street, on June 3, which is a pay-to-enter event.