Famous Calderdale band receives funding to put on concerts again

Brighouse and Rastrick band was awarded £68,600 from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which was set up to help bands make the steps to successfully return to performing to audience members across the UK following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funding will also help the band to continue delivering virtual recordings and concerts to their supporters from around the world. 

Brighouse and Rastrick Chairman Ste Cavanagh said: “After an extremely challenging year for all, this is fantastic news for B&R, banding and the arts in general.

“This funding will enable B&R to bring live music back into people’s lives. Not only will this give an incredible boost to people’s mental wellbeing, but over time it will also see us again able to work with other professional musicians, concert halls, travel companies, recording companies, etc. who also have fallen victim to the restrictions we have all experienced over the last 12 months.

“We are extremely grateful to Arts Council England for supporting our application.

“We cannot wait to get the B&R team back together in person, and we are even more excited to welcome back our fantastic audiences in person too.”  

Over £800m in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our recordbreaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they’ve ever faced.

“Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors – helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead.”

Sir Nicholas Serota, Chair, Arts Council England, said: “Investing in a thriving cultural sector at the heart of communities is a vital part of helping the whole country to recover from the pandemic.

“These grants will help to re-open theatres, concert halls, and museums and will give artists and companies the opportunity to begin making new work.”