Pledges, donations and offers of help came in from all directions in an outpouring of love, support and solidarity from the wonderful Norwich musical community.

As reported here, Adrian’s beloved guitar – a gift from his mother – was broken beyond playable repair during a street altercation whilst he was out busking last week. Shocking though the physical assault was, something about the destruction of his guitar particularly touched a nerve with the people of Norwich, any artist will empathise with how awful it would be to lose the tool of the trade, and the outlet for creative expression.

So, a Bandcamp download album with a “Pay £1 or more” donation price was put together with all proceeds going to the fund for a new guitar for Adrian. A total of twenty tracks donated by the likes of 4D Jones, Feral Mouth, The Osborne Files, Joykiller, Nobodaddy, KC (feat. Yve Mary B), The Bogeymen, Cries & Whispers, Joe Quinn, Jon Christophers, Matt Watson, PMT, Sacred Harmonic Society, Natalie Lake make up the album, and a number of the same artists performed at the Blueberry Fundraiser.

The album is still available for download here: https://norwichblog.com/2014/04/18/adrian-howes-telecoustic-guitar-fundraiser/

So successful was the fundraising via the download that enough money was raised to get a guitar just in time for it to actually be presented on the night. He looked delighted with it, christened it “Beauty” and played on it with great joy. He was photographed by the press with the whole pub singing “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” ringing in his ears.

Adrian’s first glimpse of “Beauty”

Adrian has never recorded in a studio before so the plan is to book him some studio time with any left over funds raised.

The night itself was a great success with more than a dozen acts each playing 2 or 3 songs and some mighty jamming at the end. We had appearances from Don’t Lose Heart, Nobodaddy, The Corner Band, Anto Morra, Steve Pulford, Little Red (Mojo Preachers), Natalie Lake, Matt Watson, Jos Brunwin, Dove and Boweevil, Jon Christophers, Roger Dowe, Adrian himself, and even the Norwich Samba Band!

An unforgettable and uplifting night and great music and big hearts.

Norwich Samba Band

Steve Pulford

Too many people to thank to name everyone but extra special thanks to all the artists who played and donated songs, all who bought the album or gave money, Sarah Burns and The Blueberry for hosting the event, Andy Sacre, Matt Watson, Dickie Hartt, Jon Christophers and Nic Leech, Holly Ryan, Hannah L Balcam, Bandcamp and everyone involved in putting this all together. The EDP also came along to photograph the presentation.

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/norwich_s_music_community_rally_round_to_help_busker_replace_smashed_guitar_1_3571016

Jonny Walker, Matt Watson, and Bob Garrard-Williams, seen here having just donated his own guitar

Adrian Howes onstage with Dove & Boweevil

Named for the day “The Corner Band” they did a fantastic version of White Rabbit

Don’t Lose Heart

Nobodaddy

Nobodaddy

Soundman Matt, who also arranged the running order, times, and a hundred other things at once 🙂

Adrian onstage with Matt and Andy Sacre

Little Red (Mojo Preachers) with Mark Howes

Steve Pulford pins a badge of Adrian’s lapel

Little Red (Mojo Preachers)

Natalie Lake

Adrian

Matt Watson

Adrian and his new guitar

Andy

Anto Morra

The Corner Band, or, Jessie Q and the Jacks, there appears to be a name change going on 🙂

Jessie

Roger Dowe

Jos Brunwin

Lauren Dove of Dove and Boweevil

Bo, of Dove and Boweevil

Jon Christophers

Andy Sacre

https://www.facebook.com/groups/759964287360782/

https://www.facebook.com/events/611211022306131/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

http://adrianhowesfund.bandcamp.com/album/smashed-guitar

http://www.theblueberrymusichouse.com

https://www.facebook.com/HollyRyanDesigns

https://www.facebook.com/HannahLBalcam