IRVINE’S ‘Shoes Brothers’ are back – with a Covid-related festive single.

The duo, comprising Father Wullie Boyd and the Rev Neil Urquhart, have released their new song ‘All in this Together’, along with a short film showing them paddleboarding in their wetsuits on Irvine beach.

And the song can be heard daily on Irvine Beat FM and is downloadable from Spotify, Apple Music and all music stores.

The film ‘All in This together’ can be viewed on ‘The Shoes Brothers Dance’ Facebook Page and ‘Fullonart’ YouTube channel.

Of course, The Shoes wouldn’t be The Shoes without some laughter at their expense and community engagement.

With help from professional musician Alan Campbell and Limelight Media, the Shoes have come up with another positive, feel-good song and laugh-out-loud film, starring players from Glasgow Rocks wheelchair basketball team ‘The Rolling Rocks’,pupils from Loudoun Montgomery and St Mark’s Primary Schools, Claire Young’s ‘Mind, Body and Movement’ group and Zoe and Zak Aylett, who came up with the dance.

Both Wullie and Neil were especially inspired by the Rolling Rocks during their training night with them.

They said: “What a great bunch of men and wonderfully abled athletes they are, and so welcoming to The Shoes! Seeing how these guys have overcome difficulty and disability to perform so well on the basketball court is truly inspiring.”

The Shoes Brothers told the Times: “In response to 20 months of pandemic pressure this year’s Shoes Brothers Christmas single ’All in This Together!’ combines the high energy of ‘High-school Musical’ with the empathy and sympathy of Christ.

“The Christ of Christmas comes to stretch our loving souls and release his peace into our neighbourhoods through us all who are willing to ‘get our head, heart and whole body in the game’.”

As the catchy chorus says:

We’ve had some hard times

We’ve had some low times

There will be good times

‘Cause we’re all in this together.

Rev Neil and Fr Wullie admit they aren’t exactly Zac Efron lookalikes on the basketball court nor the slimmest swimmers or paddleboarders in their dog-collared black wetsuits on Irvine beach.

They added: “What a laugh we had, flying off our paddleboards. Dogs and walkers wondered what on earth these ‘Men in Black’ were up to.”