A GROUP of Otley secondary school children are proving the ‘kids are alright’ by playing and performing on the market town’s latest annual Christmas film and song, Getting Ready For Christmas.

The short film - released to mark the start of the town's festive season - follows a number of people preparing for the big day: hair is getting styled, nails painted, clothes are tried on, shops decorated, restaurants are being prepared, pubs are ‘bottling up’, cocktails are made, and a young band rehearse ahead of a big live Christmas performance of Getting Ready For Christmas that provides a rousing end to the video.

The band in question consists of members of the town’s youth group Musical Routes who gather weekly at Otley’s community music and arts space Woolpack Studios. Aimed at children in school year nine and above, the free sessions encourage those attending to play, produce and perform music.

Getting Ready For Christmas is an original composition by the Woolpack’s Richard Sabey and Jennifer Pugh, who host the Musical Routes sessions, while lead vocals come courtesy of 15-year-old April Kenyon, who also plays a trumpet solo on the track. April is a Prince Henry’s Grammar School student, as are the rest of the performers, with the exception of bass player Finlay Craggs, who studies at Ilkley Grammar.

The film Getting Ready For Christmas – co-produced by Otley’s tourism marketing agency Endure Communications and Menston-based specialist video production company MCharMedia – is available to view on the Visit Otley Facebook page and on Endure Communications' YouTube channel. The song will be available for purchase as a digital download from Bandcamp for £1 with all proceeds being donated to Otley Food Bank.

The release of the annual Christmas song marks the start of the festive season in Yorkshire’s Christmas Town. Other events over the Christmas period include the return of the Victorian Fayre on December 4 and the Otley Christmas Tree Festival which also returns after a two-year hiatus on December 7.

Chair of Otley’s Trade & Tourism Committee Paul Carter said: “We love Christmas in Otley and while many people are aware of our fantastic independent shops, this year we wanted our annual film to highlight the fun people can have in Otley’s pubs, bars, restaurants, and gig venues, as well as the many businesses that help people prepare themselves for a night on the town. I’m particularly proud to see some of our younger residents get involved in this year’s production – the Woolpack team work hard to provide musical activities for younger people in Otley and its surrounds, and the video and song highlight the brilliant work they do.”

Chair of Otley BID Katie Burnett said: “Otley BID is proud to once again be involved in the Visit Otley Christmas Video and we are pleased to see it highlight some of the businesses involved in our evening economy which is constantly growing with new high-class restaurants and bars to complement our traditional pubs and tearooms."

Co-writer of Getting Ready For Christmas Richard Sabey of Woolpack Studios said: “Jen and I wrote the song over a couple of weekends and the Musical Routes group learnt it, recorded it and performed it in front of a live audience all in less just two weeks. They’re an incredibly talented and hard-working group and we are proud to work with them.”

Lead vocalist April Kenyon said: “We were all a little nervous about learning the song and performing it so quickly, but we all really love music and so we worked hard to get it right. Having Richard and Jen, who’ve been in music so long to help guide us really helped.”

Otley’s businesses are further supported this Christmas with two Super Sundays where many businesses who would not traditionally be open are extending their trading hours to provide extra shopping opportunities, while charges on the town’s car parks are suspended on Saturdays throughout December. The Super Sundays will be held on December 4 (Victorian Fayre day) and December 18 (the last Farmers’ Market of the year).

Getting Ready For Christmas can be seen on Facebook and YouTube. The song can also be downloaded from Bandcamp for just £1 with profits going to the Otley Foodbank.