The Pits: Gigs for Good
The Next Dinner Party
By Katlyn Mortimer
Music concerts can be a regenerative experience in many ways, and hosting a live show for the purpose of fundraising is nothing new. The first aid concert of the current era took place in 1971 and the iconic 1985 Live Aid concert raised over £100 million in aid funds for those affected by famine in Ethiopia. But today, more and more touring artists are partnering up with charities and awareness organisations to leave a lasting positive impact, which extends beyond tours and album cycles.. In this month’s edition of The Pits, I’ll be taking a closer look into the innovative ways that artists are rallying themselves and their fanbases behind a good cause.
When writing this article, I had some mixed emotions on whether I would actually be interested in visiting a fundraising stall in the foyer of a music venue before a concert. This is a period of time usually reserved for merch-buying or the awkward speed-walk to the growing crowd near the stage, so I had to question the feasibility of the interaction. I talked to some friends about what they would do in this situation – the choice between getting a good spot you probably paid a lot for, or participating and donating to a cause the artist clearly advocates for. The answer was a unanimous ‘…maybe?’ dependent on if they had seated tickets and time to kill. However, touring artists are coming up with new ways to leave an impact that lasts long after the final piece of confetti is swept away.
I recently attended a concert by The Last Dinner Party in Glasgow on September 20th. I showed up well after doors had opened, having just enjoyed a light jog from the train station to the O2 Academy. I would like to call this ‘fashionably late’, however, as I made an effort to appropriately clad myself in ribbons and lace, which is the agreed upon dress code for the band’s 2024 debut album ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’. Understanding your audience has always been a core part of live music and touring, but during their tour this year, the British indie rock quintet has harnessed the power of their own aesthetic for the greater good. Located near the merchandise stand at each show, volunteers from local food banks were fundraising for Bankuet, a charity which aims to make it easier to support food banks through simply donating money, rather than handing over whatever tin of soup you may find in your kitchen cupboard. This was all part of their ‘Ribbons for Provisions’ initiative, which began on the North American leg of their tour, and has since been continued in Europe. Harnessing the Victorian and somewhat coquettish aesthetic of their album, the group decided to incentivise donations by offering fans a ribbon embellished with ‘The Last Dinner Party’ in return. It’s safe to say the fundraising has been a success – singer Abigail Morris spoke about the project on stage, calling it ‘a really wonderful, happy thing that we can facilitate’ and mentioned how the band intends to match the amount raised by fans who have donated during the tour.
What is significant about ‘Ribbons for Provisions’ is the way the band themselves spearhead the project, and aim to support UK foodbanks in a time when over 8 million people in the country are vulnerable to being reliant on them. Despite charitable efforts, the band have often been criticised for ‘poshness’, a critique which may not be too misdirected considering the lead singer’s extortionate private school education. However, accents and aesthetics aside, The Last Dinner Party concert-goers have reportedly already raised over £20,000 for Bankuet, which sets a precedent which other artists may follow.
Similarly, the negative ecological impact of touring is something that many artists are keen to address, and have done so by partnering up with REVERB, a non-profit which promotes environmentally friendly touring practices. Having recently teamed up with artists like The 1975 and Billie Eilish, the climate awareness organisation has had a huge impact on sustainability in the live music industry. REVERB have adapted concerts to the 21st century through setting up an ‘eco action village’ a place where volunteers encourage concert-goers to attend concerts more sustainably, and sell reuseable water bottles with water stations to fill them at. Eilish has also been promoting Support & Feed during her recent tours, a charity founded by her mother which is ‘committed to mitigating climate change and increasing food security by driving global demand, acceptance, and accessibility of plant-based food’.
But despite all these valiant efforts, there have been some questions raised about the effectiveness of charity concerts. After all, pop culture and serious global issues don’t typically belong in the same sphere of discussion. Also, are concert goers really interested in donating money once they have already spent an exorbitant amount on tickets and travel? I dare compare this to any charity or organisation trying to garner support in the average high street, who likely receive more polite no’s than engagement from keen donors. However, it is crucial to note that though most fans do not go to concerts with the intention of learning about carbon emissions, their favourite artist spotlighting the issue is often enough to do the trick.
Slapping their band logo on a reuseable water bottle, or even signing a poster or guitar to be auctioned for charity are all ways guaranteed to see fan engagement with important causes. After all, fans will care about the issues that their favourite artist advertises and supports, so using a concert as a hub for social change has been widely successful for many artists. The Last Dinner Party may not have been the first to fundraise at a gig, but they might be the first to harness their niche to incentivise fundraising.