IO Earth - Studio Destroyed By Fire

Adam Gough is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Devastating Fire at IO Earth HQ

Birmingham, UK – July 19, 2024

Birmingham Progressive Band, IO Earth has been struck by a catastrophic event that has left the entire team in shock and grief. On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, a fire broke out in an adjoining unit at the site where IO Earth HQ is located, rapidly spreading and engulfing our beloved studio.

More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze tirelessly for days, but the fire’s ferocity consumed everything in its path. Sixteen years of relentless hard work and dreams ... our studio equipment, merchandise stock, and a cherished collection of musical instruments – guitars, drums, keyboards, and more – are destroyed. The impact of this tragedy is profound.

As we navigate this heartbreaking period, IO Earth stands in limbo, with the full impact of the event still sinking in. We are deeply heartbroken and in complete shock.

In this moment of need, we turn to our IO Earth family for support. To help us rebuild, we have created this GoFundMe page. Your contributions will play a crucial role in our efforts to rise from the literal flames and continue our musical journey.

IO Earth is a self-funded, fully independent band and leading light of UK Progressive Rock, formed in 2009 by Dave Cureton and Adam Gough, they have graced the stage at high profile Progressive festivals across Europe and the United States, delivering performances that have been praised for their emotional intensity and technical prowess. Their ability to connect with audiences through both their music and stage presence has been a significant factor in their growing popularity.

They won the Classic Rock Society's "Best New Band" award in 2010, shortly after the release of their debut album. This early recognition helped to boost their profile and attract a wider audience, and their popularity has only grown with the release of the subsequent 6 other studio releases. Their commitment to pushing musical boundaries, combined with their memorable live performances and industry recognition, has solidified their place as one of the notable bands in the contemporary progressive rock landscape.

Why is our goal £35,000?

This goal is set at the amount that will get us back on our feet as a performing band. This will help replace our instruments, our in-ear monitors and our mixing desk and more. We can’t even begin to imagine what rebuilding the studio will cost. We do have insurance, but it will certainly not cover the full extent of the loss. Right now, we have literally nothing left. We desperately need help to rebuild and continue our journey. Waiting for insurance claims to be resolved could take months.

The pain of this loss is overwhelming, and we can't do it alone. The next 12 months are going to be the hardest of our lives.

Listing everything individually would take up pages and pages, but here are the big hitters:

Guitars & Cases
Guitar Effects
Midi Controllers and Keyboards
Focusrite Preamps
Audio Interface
DI Boxes
Amplifiers
MacBooks
GoPro Cameras
Behringer X32 & Case
In-Ear Monitoring System
Active PA Speakers
Drum Kit & Associated Microphones
Merchandise (CDs & Apparel)

This will get us back to the stage where we can perform. This doesn’t even start to cover everything else that we have lost. Almost a dozen guitars, several irreplaceable keyboards, 3 additional full drum kits, some custom-built drums and cymbals ... mixing desks, thousands of pounds worth of leads, looms, connectors, gadgets and gizmos ...

Our actual estimates for replacing everything we have lost run closer to £100K - before we think about rebuilding. So anything you can contribute will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your generosity.