In the bleak, war-torn landscape of eastern Ukraine, an unlikely sound has been cutting through the rumble of artillery: the classic rock anthems of a British band from Cumbria. Hardwicke Circus, a six-piece collective from Carlisle, has undertaken not one but two perilous tours deep into Ukrainian territory, performing for soldiers and civilians mere kilometres from the frontline.
A Motley Crew on a Mission
The group that traversed Ukraine in a reconditioned ambulance in late October was a remarkable assembly. It included 81-year-old Irish music industry veteran Dave Robinson, co-founder of Stiff Records; 72-year-old Tex-Mex rocker Joe ‘King’ Carrasco; Australian keyboardist Conor Morrissey; Ukrainian saxophonist Ptashka Andrii Khromchenko; and the Foster brothers, Jonny and Tom, the band's founding members from Carlisle. Their mission was simple yet audacious: to deliver two donated emergency vehicles to military bases and to play rock 'n' roll for those defending their nation.
"We just wanted to do our bit to support Ukraine's war effort," explained lead singer Jonny Foster from the safety of his Carlisle home. "We thought the locals might enjoy hearing a live rock'n'roll band." This conviction saw them become the only British musicians to tour the conflict zone in June 2023, an experience so profound they vowed to return just months later.
Highways to Hell: Danger, Sickness and a Close Call
The tour was far from a standard gig. The band navigated by paper maps, fearing Russian drones hunting electronic signals. They played in subterranean venues, adhered to midnight curfews, and slept in hotels with bunkers, often woken by explosions. An early incident nearly proved fatal when their van's steering failed on a wet mountain road. Dave Robinson managed to swerve onto a forest track, stopping just short of a 200-metre drop. "If we'd gone over that we would've joined Buddy Holly in rock'n'roll heaven," he remarked.
Illness also ravaged the group. Robinson contracted pneumonia and spent a week in a Ukrainian hospital. Bassist Ben Wilde developed severe flu, losing feeling in his limbs, and was evacuated to Poland. The Ukrainian saxophonist was hospitalised with bronchitis, and the Foster brothers and keyboardist also fell ill. Only the tour-hardened Carrasco remained unscathed. "When you're in a nation under attack you don't complain about feeling poorly," Foster stated.
Music as Medicine in a War Zone
Despite the hardships, the band's impact was tangible. They performed in hospitals, including one for amputees, where a soldier with a freshly amputated leg sang along from his stretcher. At a school workshop, they played for an autistic teenager traumatised by Russian occupation; her teacher said the music helped her begin to emerge from her shell. For Carrasco, the cause extended to Ukraine's many abandoned dogs, for whom he raised funds to deliver pet food to shelters near the frontline.
The tour, which covered cities from Lviv to Kyiv, was self-funded, with all proceeds donated to Ukrainian charities. It was an extension of the band's ethos, having previously toured British prisons. "We believe music is both entertainment and art, and all people should have access to it," Foster said.
After an 18-day odyssey that included a 5,500-mile drive home for Foster in a semi-repaired van, the band members are now recovering in the UK. Yet their commitment is unwavering. They plan to return to Ukraine in 2026. As Dave Robinson put it, their journey was about showing solidarity: "Get out there and support Ukrainians. See how they conduct their lives during wartime." For Hardwicke Circus, rock 'n' roll has become an unlikely weapon of solidarity.
