British rock band Hardwicke Circus is set to take the stage at Mezzanine in Kyiv for the final show of their Ukraine tour on Wednesday evening, July 2. But this isn’t just another stop on a European tour – it’s part of the band’s mission to travel through Ukraine to raise both its spirits and funds for its defense.
The Carlisle-based group, fronted by brothers Jonny and Tom Foster, is midway through its “Songs of Freedom” tour, a multi-city journey through Ukraine that includes benefit gigs and youth workshops. All proceeds from the tour are going to support Mission Aid For Ukraine, a UK-Ukrainian charity delivering vehicles and life-saving supplies to the front lines.
The band’s Kyiv set last Friday at the intimate Tepliy Lampoviy club was a sweat-soaked whirlwind of brass, guitar, and cathartic sing-alongs. At times, the band spilled off the stage and into the crowd. Some of its members, visibly drenched, smiled through the chaos as fans danced and shouted along.
“We believe in Ukraine, we believe in its people, its freedom, and its peace,” singer Jonny Foster said just outside the club before the show began. “And as musicians we thought ‘well, how can we help?’ so we decided to come to Ukraine and do a tour, performing eight gigs all across the country to raise money for your war effort, so all the sales go to the front line, all the merchandise goes to the front line and we want to get a vehicle to where it’s most needed.”
Founded by the Foster brothers, Hardwicke Circus has racked up some impressive milestones over the past decade. They’ve shared stages with legends like Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and were personally invited by Paul McCartney to perform at the Glastonbury Festival. But this tour, they say, is unlike anything they’ve done before.
“It’s been really amazing, you know, before the gigs, after the gigs in between, meeting people, hearing their stories, hearing what they’ve been through or what they need, has been, it’s been incredible because yes we’re a band, but communicating and hearing from people on a personal level has actually made us realize- has actually pushed us forward- and given us even more motivation to do the gigs and to make this happen,” Jonny said.
Their route through Ukraine includes stops in Lviv, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, and Kharkiv, where they’re traveling alongside Ukrainian rock band Okazia and working with local musicians.
“The saxophone player’s from Kyiv here, we have Okazia, who are from Kharkiv, and they’re all very resilient, so you kind lean into it, and you follow their lead a bit,” Tom said.
Hardwicke Circus is traveling with a seasoned security advisor – himself the founder of Mission Aid For Ukraine, “delivering vehicles and tourniquets and medical supplies to the front lines,” said Jonny.
As they prepare for the Kyiv show at Mezzanine, they’re also issuing a challenge to other UK acts: Come here. Play. Help.
The July 2 concert at Mezzanine promises another night of raucous, sweat-drenched rock and roll.
Hardwicke Circus performs Wednesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. at Mezzanine, Kyiv. Donations go to Mission Aid For Ukraine.