RUSHfest Scotland returns to Glasgow to fundraise for Cancer Support Scotland

RUSHfest Scotland, an annual event honouring Canadian band RUSH, is set to return to Glasgow for its eighth year.

The three-day convention will take place from May 5 to 7 and donate all its proceeds to Cancer Support Scotland.

Founded by Steve Brown in late 2013, RUSHfest Scotland has donated £78,532.89 to various cancer charities over the years.

Mr Brown said: “From day one it was always going to be all profit to charity. And from day one we’ve always raised more than I’ve ever anticipated at each event.”   

“It’s been incredible. I don’t expect people to do things for nothing but lot of people do. The VIPs that we’re bringing across, no one’s getting a fee for that, everyone’s giving their time for free. It has been absolutely outstanding. Over £78,000 we’ve donated to charities already.”

Brown, a lifelong guitarist, was inspired to start the convention after playing in a RUSH tribute band for 13 years.

Initially, RUSHfest Scotland was a one-day event in Dreadnought in Bathgate with 200 people, but it has since grown to include 500 people over the whole weekend.

The event outgrew its initial venue in 2019 and moved to Glasgow in 2020, but the lockdown prevented it from happening.

The charity was was chosen by Brown’s very good friend and former bandmate, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

RUSHfest Scotland has supported several cancer charities in the past, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Teenage Cancer Trust, and St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh.

Gabrielle Bovaird, campaigns and communications officer at Cancer Support Scotland said: “All donated funds stay directly in Scotland and go towards helping those affected by cancer, so they go straight back into funding wellbeing appointments. That can be anything from counselling, complimentary therapy, support groups and coping with change workshops. 

“It’s been absolutely amazing. Steve has been so lovely and so supportive. I think he’s kind of really grasped how important the wellbeing services we offer are, so it’s just so great to have somebody so determined to raise funds for people that really need it. We’re so, so grateful to Steve and his team and we’re so excited to see how money this year raises as well.”

The first day of RUSHfest Scotland will be held at the Hard Rock Café in Glasgow and features a sold-out meet and greet with VIP guests.

Day two will be hosted at Barras Art & Design from 1 pm till midnight and have live music, interviews with VIPs, a raffle, auction, and whisky tasting.

The final day will return to the Hard Rock Café and end with a performance from the Scottish band, Clockwork Angels, at 2 pm.

Steve claimed the most memorable moment of RUSHfest was in 2016, when he met Terry Brown, who produced the band’s first ten studio albums.

He said: “He was kind enough to come across and be our VIP in person in 2016. I think that will go down as one in many memorable moments. And he’s coming back again this year with RUSH’s main art director and the deceased drummer Neil Peart’s sisters, Nancy and Judy.”

Tickets for the three days of RUSHfest are still available and can be purchased at www.RUSHfestScotland.co.uk.