Joe King Carrasco & Hickoids
Carrasco and his wife Nicole became involved with the relief efforts in the Ukraine last year in a very direct way. Spending the better part of two months in the war-torn country Carrasco played rock shows at night while taking musical education to schools and entertainment to pensioner homes and hospitals by day.
Another gig organised by our favourite fundraisers – JOE KING CARRASCO and his amazing wife Nicole – thank you guys x
Thursday, May 14th, 2026 at Vinyl Beauty Bar will mark the first time ever that Joe King Carrasco and Hickoids share the stage in Austin, Texas, as they join forces to benefit two great causes, Mission Aid For Ukraine and Hopefull.
Although both artists/acts have long been aware of each other and have extensive history around Austin, circumstance finally brought them together at the Pueblos Blanco Festival in Southern Spain about seven years ago.
Carrasco has a career going on five decades that has seen him traverse the world many times with his unique brand of party rock that mashes up Tex-Mex, New Wave and Garage stylings, having recorded for venerable labels such as Stiff, New Rose, ROIR, MCA and his own Anaconda label.
Hickoids are a perennial oddball proto-cowpunk combo that trace their origins to Austin era 1984. Though now spread out across Central Texas many refer to their original tune ‘Brand New Way of Living’ as the unofficial civic anthem of Austin’s drug and alcohol fueled, freewheeling 80s salad days. Though slightly chastened by time the band still delivers the musical goods with a large side of antics.
Carrasco and his wife Nicole became involved with the relief efforts in the Ukraine last year in a very direct way. Spending the better part of two months in the war-torn country Carrasco played rock shows at night while taking musical education to schools and entertainment to pensioner homes and hospitals by day. And, the couple’s efforts weren’t just some photo ops done away from the area of conflict but instead took them to some of the country’s most contested regions in their war with Russia, including Kharkiv and Nikopol.
Their involvement came at a crucial turning point as the US seemed to “quiet quit” their support of Ukraine with the change in administrations at the beginning of 2025. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian people have held firm in the defense of their country against the outsized aggressor, continually defying all expectations with ingenuity, righteousness and heart in the David versus Goliath struggle.
The first of the two organizations this fundraiser will support is Mission Aid For Ukraine, an UK-based operation that purchases high mileage SUV’s that are converted to casualty evacuation vehicles, as well as trauma kits that include high-spec tourniquets, bandages, and chest seals, and, general humanitarian aid packages. It is estimated that each vehicle saves at least 40 lives, and each trauma kit will save at least one life. More info at: www.missionaidforukraine.co.uk
The second organization is Hopefull (also UK-based) that supports wide-ranging efforts - this fundraiser will benefit the “Paws” section that cares for thousands of abandoned animals (mainly dogs) when those fleeing had to leave the family pet behind. The shelters also take in animals injured and traumatized by the hostilities and those cruelly mistreated or hit by passing vehicles -specifically aiding three shelters – two near the front lines in Nikopol and Kherson/Mykolaiv Oblast, and one outside Lviv – by providing food, financial aid and neutering medical services. https://www.hopefull.org.uk/our-animal-shelters
Please join us on Thursday, May 14th, at the Vinyl Beauty Bar located at 2400 E Cesar Chavez St UNIT 312, Austin, TX 78702. Doors are at 7:30 pm with a suggested minimum door donation of $10. Hickoids will take the stage at 8, and Joe King Carrasco and band will follow at 9:15. 100% of door money and additional donations will benefit the causes cited above. Many thanks in advance for your support.
The first uk band to tour ukraine
We are honoured to be travelling with Hardwicke Circus, the first UK band to tour Ukraine since the war started.
Hardwicke Circus will be performing live shows in Ukraine.
The gigs will raise money for charity and help to raise awareness of what is going on in Ukraine.
https://www.hardwickecircus.tv/theband
We are honoured to be travelling with Hardwicke Circus, the first UK band to tour Ukraine since the war started.
Hardwicke Circus will be performing live shows in Ukraine.
The gigs will raise money for charity and help to raise awareness of what is going on in Ukraine.
Jonny Foster, a member of the band, said: "We've been given this opportunity to support some charity shows in Ukraine to raise money for their war efforts.
"We believe in Ukraine, we believe in the people of Ukraine, and as musicians, this is our way of demonstrating our support for their freedom.
"We were connected to a band in Ukraine, and they asked us to come and do some shows.
"With England backing Ukraine, we thought a Carlisle band could back a Kharkiv band.
"It's a wonderful idea to get behind this group, and this country, so we jumped at the chance.
"We're aware of the dangers, but we're also aware of how important it is. Yes, this country is going through a terrible ordeal through no fault of its own. This is a country that has a long, rich tradition of music, art, and culture.
"We speak to our Ukrainian friends here in Carlisle and in Ukraine, they're trying to get on with their lives and not let themselves be identified by the ordeal they're going through, but by the long history which makes them who they are, and we're right behind them."
Following their tour of the Czech Republic, Hardwicke Circus will be heading to Ukraine to perform live.
Watch their interview with Breakfast tv on the BBC here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJoaPubIO7Q
More info to follow…