Ashford Musicians Release Charity Single For Mid Kent Mind
Ashford musicians have come together to record a charity cover of The Beatles classic ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ to raise money for Mid Kent Mind.
Due for release on Valentine’s Day, a time when those on their own can feel isolated and lonely, the single has been recorded by 22 talented singers and musicians from Ashford in Kent under the ‘Ashford Amplified’ banner.
Ashford Amplified is about so much more than music. It is about people coming together with heart, purpose and creativity to support mental health in their community. The project aims to demonstrate how music can heal, connect and inspire, turning local talent into a force for real change and hope for those who need it most.
Led by Alastair Bendall, part of the group Whisky & Wine, the project was started with a goal deeply personal to him. Alastair said: “I wanted to find a meaningful way to raise awareness for mental health. As a musician, I know the power music has to connect people, to express what words sometimes cannot and to bring light into difficult spaces. I realised that by creating a single with my friends, we could turn that shared passion into something truly special. Something magical that not only sounds beautiful, but carries a message of hope, unity and support for anyone who might be struggling. And there seemed no better song to cover than The Beatles classic ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’.”
The single features the following bands and solo artists, who all met at Ben and Jono’s open mic nights in Ashford and became friends:
RnR
- Becky Saward
- Ritchie Swann
- Damian Blunt
Stella and the Loft
- Stella Loftus
- Jim Loftus
Still Upsetting
- Harrison Gibbs
- Gareth Thompson
- Dave Bishop
Whiskey & Wine
- Alastair Bendall
- Amy Carpenter
- Noah Blunt
- Matt Verrell
- Torre Redman
Skye Duo
- Xanthia Skye
- Alastair Bendall
The Rec
- Lewis Cale
- Scott Cale
Solo Artists
- Iona McBain
- Ben Kisnorbo
- Jonathan Kadacham
- Thalia Colwell
- Paul Found
- Robin Mack
- Grace Janukowicz
Tom Green & The Ashford Community Drum Band
The single was produced at SoundSpace Ashford, an Arts Council funded community music project.
The single will be available to download on 14th February 2026 and donations to Mid Kent Mind are warmly welcomed via justgiving.com/page/ashford-amplified
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Events Coming Up This Weekend in Kent & Sussex
#AshfordAmplified #MidKentMind #IndexDigital
