A COMMITTED band has launched its third song of a unique and challenging project featuring an historic Harwich cinema.

Ben Wood, 35, and his band Ben Wood and the Bad Ideas have embarked on a journey to release a single every month of this year and they have now released their third single of the project, called 1930s Gem.

The band’s opening singles to their 2020 project, Cora, Cora, Cora and Noondrunk are both being regularly spun by legendary Los Angeles DJ Rodney Bingenheimer and have both featured on his Radio Indie Alliance chart alongside the likes of Green Day.

The music video of their new single was filmed at the Electric Palace Cinema, in King’s Quay Street, Harwich.

The lyrics of the song were written during the 2011 London riots and reflect on the Tottenham Co-op building being enveloped in flames.

Harwich-born Ben, who used to live near the site in London, said he wanted to write a song which was defiant, but not angry.

He added: “We are passionate about protection of historic buildings and we were delighted to work with the Electric Palace Trust for this video and to have been given the opportunity to join our song with this beautiful building.

“Being born and raised in Harwich, my first ever cinematic experience was at the Electric Palace.

“The work the Electric Palace Trust is doing is incredible, as crucial renovation work is underway.

“So many buildings which are part of our nation’s history need to be cared for, cherished and protected and the trust are doing exactly that.

“This is a building which has had to fight for its survival and thanks to support from the community and the incredible work being done by the Electric Palace Trust, it is thriving.”

The Electric Palace dates back to 1911 and is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the country.

The trust scooped a £653,000 lottery grant towards its £750,000 restoration project.

“As a band we are deeply passionate about protecting gems such as these”, Ben added.

“For one reason or another we never released ‘1930s Gem’ as a single.

“In such unprecedented times we are so humbled to be putting it out now.”

Both the lyrics and the music reflect the stead-fast defiance of those opposed as well as the consolation of those in picture-perfect retreat and desperate abandon.

To support the Electric Palace go to chuffed.org/project/save-our-cinema.

For more on the band, go to facebook.com/BenWoodTheBadIdeas.