The eBand Fundraising Evenings
by Sue
When the eBand got together, it was with the intention of playing good music to people who loved good music and to raise money for good causes. A bunch of Christians, led by Malc, who were mostly already involved in their local church with the Worship music at that church. The line-up of the band developed and grew as the band started to develop the kind of songs they were playing and the kind of show they put on.
The simple philosophy of the eBand has always been – they love to play music and are good, people like good music and will pay to hear them play, they can raise money for charities and good causes. A straightforward win, win, win situation.
Everyone loves 60s music so they started with a 60s night where the band and many of the audience, pitched up in sixties clobber. There were plenty of men in smart mod-like suits and ladies with beehive hair and the odd hippy. They raised a lot of money and everyone had a great time as the eBand played some of the biggest hits of that era.
At the following event – you guessed it - a 70s night, you could not move for all the bell-bottom trousers and tie-dyed tee-shirts. And if you did move you were likely to trip over someone out of ABBA. Once again covering all the big hits of that time the eBand generated funds for a good cause.
There followed some themed nights: Saturday night at the movies - songs from movie soundtracks, Desert Island discs – the band picked their own favourite songs, a Country Music Night, Reach for the Stars – all songs with a theme of sun, moon, stars or pretty much anything non-terrestrial including a Dr Who intro including the band emerging from a Tardis (well, a poster of the Tardis on the entrance door to the stage.) Malc is a great fan and delighted in creating the intro soundtrack complete with the Tardis landing sound.
The eBand accumulated a pretty good following and we saw some in the audience who had been to many of the shows. With all of the evenings we did, we held a free between sets quiz with a (chocolate) prize for the winner.
At the 'Saturday Night at the Movies' show, our four young grandchildren were all there. Malc asked our two grandaughters to come on stage and sing “Let it Go” (from Frozen.) Before the show started Malc asked both the girls if they would come and sing on the stage. The older one said “Do I get a microphone?” and the little one very worriedly said, “Do I have to sing all the songs?” “No darling,” I replied, “Just the one song.” Bless.
Both loved singing and sang their little hearts out.
The eBand have also played a couple of smaller shows at a Residential homes for the elderly if residents choose generously give, the funds are passed on to a charity. These have included a local food bank project and Hospice.
It is such a privilege and a blessing to share with others the love of God and as we have moved back to a kind of normal, there will be more concerts planned and more good causes helped.
Keep watching for news of future concerts announced on the eBand site and maybe make a date to come along. We would love to meet you.
We pray and hope for better times to come as we have all faced darker days over the past couple of years. And music can help that – but only Jesus can bring us into that place of perfect peace.