Recently, news broke out that Ultimate Thunder, a Leeds-based band primarily composed of individuals with learning disabilities, may be forced to disband altogether due to financial issues. They have since started a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to continue rehearsing and performing, and to release their second album. Currently, they have raised over £4,200 on the platform.
The band received funding from the Arts Council to make their debut LP and have it professionally mixed, pressed and promoted. However, they learned that the charity supporting them financially was unable to continue doing so, so the band has been left in a difficult situation since their last gig back in February, totalling unaware that it would be their final gig.
Many have since rallied to support the band. Indie singer Tim Burgess donated funds to their crowdfunding campaign via his Help Us Help Bands project, saying that the band “are a fantastic band whose members have learning difficulties and complex needs”. Another group, Yard Act, also expressed their support and urged others to donate, describing the band as “a really great band”.
Other bands like I Like Trains have shown their support online too, with one member tweeting that they should “keep the rock and roll wheels rolling for Ultimate Thunder. This is the real punk rock”. Even the Brudenell Social Club, where the band performed their final gig, supported the campaign and urged people to share and donate if they could, as “this is a project that means a lot to us as a venue. Such a positive band [that is] giving a genuinely significant creative outlet.”
If you would like to help Ultimate Thunder out, you can head to their crowdfunding page where donations are still being accepted
Read the full article on NME here: Read More