A WIRRAL musician has released a track in a bid to help a community music venue through the coronavirus lockdown.

Life in the borough during the current health restrictions has devastated the cultural landscape, along with many local businesses and everyday lives, with the live music scene completely silenced. 

Veteran Wirral singer/songwriter Dean Johnson started his 30 year career in Birkenhead’s pubs before graduating to national acclaim working with Wet Wet Wet and Squeeze among others.

After saying goodbye to touring to concentrate on his Wilfred Owen musical Bullets and Daffodils, Dean still itches to tread the boards.

After being invited three years ago to perform at the newly launched West Kirby Arts Centre, he has since made the former Church his spiritual home.

The venue, which is run by volunteers, receives no funding and is totally reliant on revenue from staging live events and art exhibitions. In the current social distancing climate, Dean has felt compelled to release a song in aid of the now sadly quiet venue. 

The up-tempo song, entitled ‘Out Of This Wreck’, can be heard on YouTube and SoundCloud.

There is a donate button for anyone wishing to contribute to the Arts Centre to help it thrive when normality returns.

The centre normally runs a busy programme of classes in visual arts, photography, music, dance, drama and Yoga as well as hosting regular local and national events.