Soul duo who raised £5k for carers to return with virtual Black Lives Matter gig

Barry Poling and Bobby Anarfi started performing together as Montage in 1992 after meeting at a gig, and played together for around 12 years before taking a break - with the group reforming in 2019.

A virtual gig with an initial target of £1,000 raised more than five times that amount as the pair from Locks Heath went live on Facebook to raise funds for the Care Workers Charity last month.

More than £5,000 raised by the duo means 10 care workers will get financial support when they may not have otherwise.

Barry, 46, said: ‘Very early on we thought, is there something we can do to help someone with the skill sets that we have got?

‘We thought £1,000 would be a bit of a stretch but before the live stream took place we had raised £1,700 from people just knowing we were going to run the live stream.’

A second performance will be streaming on Saturday from 5pm to thank the supporters who got involved the first time round, including playing a range of requests which came in during their original gig.

This second stream will also give viewers the opportunity to continue to support care workers, or choose to donate to UK-based charity The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, which was founded to tackle inequality in all forms, or the USA's NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Bobby, 47, wanted to support the Black Lives Matter movement and has been reflecting on his own experiences of racism throughout the years as a black man.

He said: ‘I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t reflect it.’

Bobby has roped in some colleagues who he performs in a band with, and Barry’s other band The Felt Beaters are getting involved too.

Bobby added: ‘It should be great fun - the first one was the one I was probably more nervous for. I’m looking forward to it and hoping the weather holds up.’

To watch the free live stream on Saturday, or to donate to any of the three charities, visit montagemusic.co.uk

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