Birmingham band SYLVIA are to release a single ‘Hollow Star’ in aid of Hand in Hand for Syria, a Midlands charity set up to send medical and humanitarian aid to the war-torn country.

The band members were moved to use their single to support the charity following a charity gig they played for Hand in Hand in Birmingham in August. “A very good friend of ours is from Aleppo in Syria,” explained lead singer Daniel Sweeney. “The conflict over there continues to produce atrocities every day and the people are in desperate need of medical and humanitarian aid both inside Syria and in the refugee camps in bordering countries. The gig, which four Birmingham bands and singers played at, raised well over £1000 but more help is needed, which is why we thought of a charity single.”

‘Hollow Star’ will be available to buy on iTunes from October 5. A single release night will be held at the Bull’s Head, Moseley, where copies of the band’s debut album, Rathea, will be sold with half the proceedings going to Hand in Hand for Syria.

Hand in Hand for Syria spokesperson Simon Hallam commented: “We have been amazed and touched by the support we have received from people all over the country, including a seven year old who is swimming the equivalent miles to the English Channel, people doing sponsored runs and of course the gig in August which SYLVIA and others played. We hope that music-lovers can buy this single and lend further support to the people of Syria.”

Up to 100 people a day are being killed in Syria, where conflict has been going on for a year and a half. Medical and hospital care is increasingly hard to access as the fighting has been intensifying in recent months.

A soundfile of the single and photos of the band are available on request. A Facebook event page for the single can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/events/476415919047299/

Hand in Hand for Syria is a UK registered charity that was established in 2011 at the start of the Syrian uprising. It is a non-political organisation funded by individual donations. Its aim is to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the uprising in Syria, this includes people still inside Syria as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries. Hand in Hand is based in England and has a field office in Lebanon which manages all local supply and delivery of aid into Syria. It is one of the few charities currently able to get humanitarian aid into Syria and regularly provide food and clothing to around 3450 Syrian families, some of whom are refugees at the Lebanese border. http://handinhandforsyria.org.uk/

SYLVIA are: Daniel Sweeney, 30, vocals, Guitar; Phill Ward, 29, bass, vocals; and Russell Collins, 27, drums. The band’s debut album ‘Rathea’, was released in summer 2012. http://www.thisissylvia.com/gallery.html

Please contact Jo Tura on 07989 14 34 74/ jo@jotura.com for further details