Carlisle-based rock band Hardwicke Circus is about to begin its “Songs of Freedom” tour. The tour will start with several concerts in the Czech Republic from Sunday, then continue in Ukraine. They will tour with Kharkiv-based band Okazia. Together, they will perform concerts and lead music workshops for young people in Ukraine.
Their journey will cover 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) across Ukraine. The tour will begin in Lviv, in western Ukraine, and then move east through Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, and Kharkiv. The band also plans to play at a military base, where they will record a live album. The tour will end with a final concert in Kyiv.
All money raised from the concerts will go directly to Mission Ukraine. This is a joint UK-Ukrainian charity that delivers aid to areas affected by war. More information about the charity and its work is available online.
Jonny Foster, the band’s lead singer, said, “Music is more than just entertainment. It is about connection, courage, and community.” He added, “We feel it is our responsibility to show solidarity for peace and freedom. We believe in Ukraine. When we were offered this chance, we decided to support it fully.”
When asked about the risks of touring in a war zone, the band’s drummer Tom Foster, Jonny’s brother, said, “There is danger involved, but the importance of what we want to achieve is greater than the risk. When this opportunity came, we could not say no.”
The band spoke on the BBC Breakfast program on Saturday. They said they are aware of the risks and have a security team with experience protecting people in Ukraine and other dangerous places.
The tour is sponsored by Armstrong Watson, a leading accounting firm based in Cumbria. Paul Dickson, the CEO, told local news outlet Cumbria Crack that the firm “believes access to arts and culture can have a huge positive effect on communities.”
He said, “Supporting Hardwicke Circus on this special tour is about more than backing local talent. It is about giving a voice to hope, resilience, and unity through music.” He added, “We are proud to help make this tour happen and to see a band from Carlisle take such a brave and inspiring step on the international stage to raise funds for Mission Ukraine.”
After meeting Hardwicke Circus, the British band Okazia helped organize the tour. They say the tour shows how music can bring people together in hard times and highlights the role of the arts in supporting humanitarian efforts and building cross-cultural bonds.
Hardwicke Circus is known for their socially aware song lyrics. They have experience playing in unusual places – in 2021, they performed a 15-date tour in UK prisons.
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