Scottish rock band, Travis have launched their collaboration with Bankuet, a company dedicated to supporting food banks – who, to date, have raised £4.5 million for the cause, for their ‘Eat The Beat’ campaign ahead of Travis’ upcoming ‘Raze the Bar’ UK tour.
The initiative is intended to generate increased support towards food banks to raise the funds needed to help the increasing number of people forced to rely on them this Christmas.
As the UK continues to witness the Cost of Living crisis, more individuals are forced to live day by day to afford food and basic amenities, the strain on food banks has soared as more individuals rely on their resources to make ends meet. Between April 2023 and March 2024 more than 655,000 reported using foodbanks for the first time, whilst 3.1 million emergency food parcels were sent out to those facing hardships across Britian. This is a 94% increase over the past five years.
In just five years, over a million more people in the UK are now facing hunger and hardship, bringing the total to staggering new heights
Support your local food bank through Bankuet so they can continue providing their life-saving services https://t.co/v1NlWKvP0t pic.twitter.com/4oQw3sm12b
— Bankuet (@bankuetuk) November 18, 2024
Hailing from Glasgow, Travis have established a reputation for creating timeless soft, alternative rock tracks for their ever-growing fanbase since the 1990s. With two number one albums, respectively ‘The Man Who’ released in 1999 and ‘The Invisible Band’ released in 2001, Travis are clearly determined to give back to the very communities that assisted their rise to fame by using their fortunate position to create positive change.
Travis’ frontman Fran Healy has discussed the importance of the band’s involvement in the ‘Eat the Beat’ food bank initiative, stating: “I was poor growing up, so we’re joining forces with Bankuet to help feed not only the growing number of people who are having to rely on food banks but those on low incomes faced with the choice of heating or eating this Christmas”.
He continued: “There is no shame in asking for help, I got free school dinners every day and that made me feel cared for and perhaps more importantly, knowing it helped my mum made it feel even better. Food banks are essential to help families and individuals in need to put food on the table in the UK. We’re so lucky we have some extra money to buy a ticket to go see a gig, so please chuck in a few quid or get rid of your change or tap the app”.
The ‘Flowers In The Window’ band will embark on their headline tour in early December, commencing at Leeds O2 Academy on December 5. Travis will then perform a string of shows across the UK in Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, London and Glasgow throughout the course of the month.
The ‘Raze the Bar’ tour accompanies the release of Travis’ latest album, ‘L.A. Times’, their tenth studio album which released back in July. The LP effortlessly displays Travis’ ever-evolving sonic style, with a reinvention of their earlier sound which utilises introspective lyricism but adopts more consistently catchy melodies.
Their forthcoming almost sold-out tour will give attendees the opportunity to give back to their local communities. Fans will have the choice to donate through the Bankuet website by clicking the ‘Eat the Beat’ option at checkout or by donating at any of the venues across the ‘Raze the Bar’ tour. Fans who donate via the Bankuet website (who show proof of donation) or those who choose to donate on the night will receive a donation badge from Bankuet volunteers, who will be present on the night.
This winter, we’re teaming up with @bankuetuk to launch a campaign that’s close to our hearts: EAT THE BEAT – raising vital funds to support food banks during our upcoming Raze The Bar UK tour. Here’s how you can get involved: Donate online at https://t.co/2SBfRteMsX by… pic.twitter.com/kwjBnvyUGz
— Travis (@TravisBand) November 27, 2024
As demand for foodbanks continues, Travis and Bankuet’s ‘Eat the Beat’ food bank initiative aims to start a grassroots effort to help individuals in our local and national communities to have access to resources which lessen their hardships.
