About The Best Christmas (In Lockdown)

These are the latest instalments in the uplifting story of ELECTRIC UMBRELLA, and how they have brought a unique brand of joy to some of those struggling most with the impact of the pandemic, supporting them to live their best life in lockdown. When Covid struck in March, ELECTRIC UMBRELLA, a local Watford based charity who use music to enrich the lives of people with learning disabilities, rapidly moved online. It has become an extraordinary and heart warming journey of a small charity evolving overnight into something very special with an extraordinary and far reaching impact. 8 months later, they have delivered over 1500 hours of online programming, bringing much needed joy and opportunity, to people from their Hertfordshire base, across the UK and as far afield as the US, Australia and Uganda. They’ve released 3 singles, written and recorded a complete album, and recently passed their 100th Singalong session. Electric Umbrella TV, their online magazine show has attracted guests including Sophie Ellis- Bextor, Tony Hadley, The Feeling’s Dan Gillespie Sells & Toyah Wilcox, plus stars from the learning disabled world – Andrew Self (BBC’s Greatest Dancer), Daniel Honeybourne (Autistic concert pianist), incredible bands such as The AutistiX and Electric Fire, Australia’s Got Talent’s ‘Find Your Voice’ choir and multiple stars from the world of musical theatre. Many of these guests have contributed their talents and voices to the album and Christmas single. They’ve held songwriting sessions with Nashville based country musicians, partnered virtually with Nickelodeon “America’s Most Musical Family” contestants The Rees Family, and are regularly joined on zoom by a group of children in Kampala, Uganda singing their theme tune and wearing their very own Electric Umbrella T-shirts over 6000 miles away!

THE NEW SINGLE – THE BEST CHRISTMAS (in lockdown) epitomises the truly collaborative nature of this charity who are fast carving out a reputation for being the leading lights in online Learning Disabled Entertainment. The single combines over 100 voices of celebs and musicians alongside their learning disabled performers. It’s a truly uplifting celebration of the season in the vein of classic Christmas songs, despite the current circumstance. Very much what the world needs right now. “The Christmas single happened completely by accident. We were close to finishing the album when Lockdown 2 was announced and someone said the words ‘I don’t want to spend Christmas in lockdown’… and before we knew it, we were knee deep into writing a Christmas single! Via Zoom we gathered people’s thoughts, ideas, fears and hopes of what Christmas would look like this year and did our best to capture this weird moment in time. We had no idea what a lockdown Christmas would look like, but we did know it would be better spent together – even if it is virtually! When we asked our EUTV guests and celebs to add their vocals to the single they jumped at the chance to get involved. Technically it was challenging recording the vocals via phones, ipads, tablets, laptop mics and all direct through zoom. I literally had to grab what I could, when I could. Some were recorded whilst people were in the shops, in the car, in the kitchen and in the bathroom!” Tom Billington, Artistic Director, ELECTRIC UMBRELLA.

As the New Year arrives so does the brand new ELECTRIC UMBRELLA album packed with positivity and promise – due out February 2021. Entitled ‘Sunflower Avenue’ it’s been created with new friends and partners from around the world. It is a unique venture, a celebration of what we can achieve together and a fabulous uplifting musical experience. Mel Boda, CEO, ELECTRIC UMBRELLA comments:“For many people with learning disabilities, living a life of isolation is something quite familiar to them already. The closure of activities, loss of routine, purpose and regular connection due to restrictions, has exasperated this situation leading to increased pressure on individuals and the families supporting them, with a tremendous impact on wellbeing. We’ve worked really hard to provide slick and professional uplifting shows designed to entertain and reduce that isolation. They offer a place for people with learning disabilities to feel safe and secure, meet friends, provide regular and meaningful social interaction, find a new routine and a chance to enjoy live music and the bond of community singing – something we know is incredibly powerful, but sadly missing right now.”