THE lockdown blues were banished for a few blissful minutes when local musicians came together for an online gig to raise money for the Hereford Times Support Our NHS Guardian Angels appeal.

The Hereford Times with Hereford's Babar Cafe joined forces for the virtual gig, which was streamed on our Facebook page on Saturday night (May 2).

The gig, introduced by Nick Herbert of Babar Cafe, featured three acts: Rob Ashman and Nicola Rose Henderson of Tallulah's Goat, David Ian Roberts, and Martin Blake.

Rob said afterwards: "For us, as for everyone, it's difficult not being able to go about our usual activities – playing gigs, rehearsing and so on – so this has given us a welcome opportunity to share our music and at the same time raise a bit of money for the NHS."

Although the gig was free, we asked people to contribute as much or as little as they wished to our NHS appeal.

Support Our NHS Guardian Angels seeks to raise as much as possible to show those working in the NHS that we care and support them.

The appeal, set up by Hereford Times publisher Newsquest Media Group, is running across our network of regional papers across the UK. It is raising money for NHS Charities Together’s urgent Covid-19 appeal, the same cause that the heroic Captain Thomas Moore is supporting.

Babar Cafe and the Hereford Times would like to thank all four performers for donating their time and talent to the appeal.

Thanks, also, to Nick Brown of Mash Cinema, who generously edited our gig video. Nick also stages DJ nights with amazing visuals at Babar's called Eyeball Bubblebath.