Didn’t want to do this

UPDATE. We have increased the target because that was really to ensure we got the minimum equipment we needed. Will keep updating about where we are but can I just say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You’ve made me cry

Hi my name is Andy and I’m the dad of Tom A Smith, on Friday we drove down to London from Sunderland with his lovely band to perform on Radio X that evening. We stopped at London M1 services, had some food and went on our way. It wasn’t until we got to Radio X in Leicester Square that we realised that thieves had completely emptied the van of everything. About £11k worth of equipment including guitars, amps and pedals. Bags with Xmas presents for bass player Katie’s family, a laptop and bags with belongings and a little bit of merch that we use to help fund our travels. All of this is devastating enough but everything had sentimental beauty.

Toms guitar was a beauty, gifted by his grandad and followed him through his whole career. He mainly plays electric these days but he writes every song on it and even used it to play in the centre circle at his beloved football clubs stadium in front of 40k fans.

Katies Bass guitar was a carefully chosen 21st birthday present from her dad. It really meant the world to her and is irreplaceable.

Similarly Dylan’s guitar was a gift in 2016 from his grandad and has followed him around ever since.

There is a possibility of insurance covering the two guitars but it looks like it would be a lesser figure (for toms guitar) than it’s worth. Will update on that when we know more.

The purpose of the funding isn’t for a like for like replacement. We need to be able to perform, as long as we can get some suitable professional equipment we can move on. If it’s possible we’d streamline our setup so that we didn’t need as much equipment and make us less conspicuous whilst touring. Rubbish eh!!

We are all low at the moment and it’s almost Xmas. Don’t push yourself if you can’t do it. We’ll survive but it would be nice to look after Katie who isn’t covered and lost thousands. A number of people have suggested that they would like to contribute to a crowd funder so we have created this.