The D-Day Darlings, the distinguished UK music group known for their wartime inspired performances, have announced the release of their new single, “The Longest Day”. This powerful song, written by the group’s founder and lead singer Katie Ashby and Shelly Mcerlaine of Alisha’s Attic, will be released on May 9th, 2024 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Produced by Nick Southwood of The Overtones, the single showcases the group’s stunning vocal harmonies and pays tribute to the brave veterans who fought on D-Day. “The Longest Day” is a special song written to honor the sacrifices and experiences of the war heroes, as well as to inspire younger generations to learn about this important moment in history.
Katie Ashby, lead singer of The D-Day Darlings, shared her motivation for writing the song, stating, “I wanted to write a special song that pays a lasting tribute to all those who gave so much on D-Day and to honor the precious few living veterans. We must continue to remember the sacrifices made for our freedoms.”
Co-writer Shelly Mcerlaine added, “It was an honor to hear some of the brave and selfless stories from our war heroes and try to put them to music. I hope we did them proud.”
In addition to the single release, The D-Day Darlings will also be embarking on a 19-date UK theatre tour, starting in April 2024. The tour will feature the group’s signature harmonies as well as performances by young trailblazers The D-Day Darlings Voices Choirs, a group of performers aged 6-18, and The D-Day Darlings Voices Choirs, a vibrant community of people from the Midlands founded by lead singer Katie Ashby.
The group will also be participating in various events surrounding the 80th anniversary of D-Day, including an exclusive performance for the veterans before they depart for France on June 4th. They will also be performing with The BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Big Band in a special broadcast for BBC Radio 2 hosted by Vernon Kay in June 2024.
The D-Day Darlings’ theatre tour dates are as follows:
APRIL 2024:
28 – Burnley, Mechanics Theatre – 2:30pm
MAY 2024:
21 – Leeds, City Varieties – 2:30pm
23 – Hoddesdon, The Spotlight – 1pm
25 – Sutton Coldfield, Town Hall – 7:30pm
26 – Cannock, Prince of Wales Theatre – 6pm
30 – Tenbury, Regal Theatre – 7:30pm
31 – Chipping Campden, Cidermill Theatre – 7:30pm
JUNE 2024:
1 – Verwood, Verwood Hub – 2pm
7 – Redditch, Palace Theatre – 6:30pm
9 – Tamworth, Assembly Rooms (The D-Day Juniors & The Voices Choir) – 2:30pm & 7:30pm
13 – Weymouth, Pavilion Theatre (Local School Performance) – 2pm
15 – Swansea, Grand Theatre (Local School Performance) – 2:30pm
21 – Halesowen, Town Hall (The D-Day Juniors & The Voices Choir) – 7:30pm
23 – Derby, Melbourne Assembly Rooms – 4pm
30 – Coalville, Century Theatre (The D-Day Juniors & The Voices Choir) – 2:30pm & 7:30pm
JULY 2024:
24 – Stafford, Gatehouse Theatre (Local School Performance) – 7:30pm
SEPTEMBER 2024:
22 – Clacton-On-Sea, Princes Theatre (Local School Performance) – 2pm
OCTOBER 2024:
13 – Princess Alexander Auditorium, Stockton-on-Tees (Local School Performance) – 2:30pm
Tickets for the theatre tour are available for purchase now through the venues or The D-Day Darlings’ tour page, with prices ranging from £19-£28.
In addition to their music, The D-Day Darlings have collaborated with Withers Gin to create a Limited Edition London Dry Gin, “I’ll Remember You”. This special gin, crafted with Withers Gin’s G1 recipe, features the heartsease flower, a symbol of remembrance, to honor the 80th anniversary of D-Day. For every direct purchase of the gin, £2 will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Sarah Withers, Founder and Director of Withers Gin, expressed the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Gin is synonymous with stories, and each gin has its own distinct tale. With ‘I’ll Remember You’, my goal is to
