A FORMER hospital radio DJ is teaming up with musicians from throughout East and Midlothian to raise money for charity through a series of virtual gigs.

Anthony Neri, along with Daniel Fairgrieve, has been publicising live music in the area since 2011 after forming the ELM (East and Midlothian) Gig Guide.

However, with venues shutting their doors due to the coronavirus outbreak, Anthony has taken it upon himself to keep the music playing while raising money for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.

He said: “Obviously, with what has happened recently, people cannot go out and do gigs.

“We had people messaging us asking us if we could do anything with online streaming.

“Obviously, over the years, I have got to know a lot of artists and venues and we have done interviews with people online and got quite a good network.”

For the last two weeks, musicians have streamed their performances through Facebook, with people making donations online.

Already, more than £1,200 has been collected for the good cause, which is close to Anthony’s heart.

He said: “I was overwhelmed by the donations.

“They have still been creeping up as well.

“At the end of play at the weekend, we were sitting at £1,100 and since then it is just under £1,300.

“We have had great feedback and people are treating it like a night in the pub – it is amazing.

“One of the acts on Saturday he had people watching from New Zealand, Australia and the USA and he got an encore just by people chanting 'one more' with a stream of messages coming through.”

Anthony worked at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh between 2004 and 2006.

Since then, he has become a student and will soon finish off a masters in social work.

Forty-six-year-old Anthony told the Courier the weekly online gigs were helping to keep him sane during the coronavirus lockdown.

He has been busy organising this weekend’s event, which will feature songs by a number of familiar faces, with an appearance from former X-Factor star Caitlyn Vanbeck, from Tranent.

The lead singer of The Klones added: “It has been quite hard work coordinating it – a bit harder than I was expecting – but it has been really rewarding to see how people have got behind it.

“This weekend, I’ve just been speaking to Caitlyn Vanbeck, and she is going to do a slot for us on Sunday evening.

“We have got five tribute acts over the course of the weekend with Amy Winehouse, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Rod Stewart and Freddie Mercury, plus three female artists running over the weekend.”

This weekend’s music is spread over the weekend, with live music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, search ELM Gig Guide on Facebook or to make a donation go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/elmgigguide