Leeds woman organises 'Jamming for Jamaica' fundraiser for those impacted by Storm Melissa devastation
A woman with Jamaican heritage has organised a music fundraiser in Leeds in light of the “heart breaking” devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in the Carribean.
‘Jamming For Jamaica’ will be held at Hyde Park Book Club on Headingley Lane on Thursday, December 18, and will feature nine artists performing a variety of music throughout the evening.
Among those performing will be organiser Lauren McGuire, who felt compelled to do something after seeing the damage caused by the category 5 storm that tore across the island in October.
She said: “My dad’s Jamaican and I have family there so I wanted to do something.
“My family live in the heartland and me and my sister took my dad back in 2019 for the first time since he was 14. We met cousins and my aunties which was amazing.
“It was pretty special and for me personally I felt complete after I went. It really felt like home.”
Storm Melissa was the most powerful on record to hit Jamaica, with peak winds of 185mph causing the displacement of 30,000 households. PA reports that so far 45 people have died in Jamaica.
Miss McGuire said that after power was restored to the island she was able to contact her family and find that they were all safe, though the roof of a house and some produce had been “destroyed”.
She said: “There was a gap of a week where I wasn’t able to speak to them because they’re in the countryside and it’s quite cut off.
“It was difficult not knowing what was going on for them.
“I was watching things on social media of the devastation and desperation and it was just heart-breaking.”
She added: “I just felt like I needed to do something about it so I started messaging family and friends. I was sat in work when I thought that, because I sing, I could do something with music.”
After deciding that she wanted to hold a concert to raise funds for relief aid, Miss McGuire put out a post on social media and was approached by the Hyde Park Book Club, who offered her the venue to use for free.
“It’s really great that they did that”, she said. “I just need to make sure it’s as successful as it can be now.”
The money raised at the fundraiser will go towards The Sean Paul Foundation, which was set up by the Kingston-born singer in partnership with Food For The Poor Jamaica to ensure that food, clothing and other aid supplies are delivered to Jamaica.
Miss McGuire said that seeing videos of the ‘Get Busy’ singer going to his homeland and helping those in need “really inspired me to do something with my music”.
She added: “I do feel a bit connected to him. I used to work in a hotel in Leeds that he stayed at and I got to meet him. His people asked for food suggestions and I told them to go to Chapeltown.”
Nine artists, including Miss McGuire, who performs under the moniker Elefem, will perform at the event, which starts at 6.30pm and lasts until 10pm. She said to expect a variety of music, with reggae, soul, gospel and hip hop
Tickets are available at the Hyde Park Book Club website and a fundraising page has been set up for anyone to donate to.