Ottawa rock band Hellbros win #GIGS4GOOD online charity fundraising competition in nail-biting final hour

Beating their runner-up by a difference of only $6.67, Ottawa’s Hellbros earned themselves a trio of paid festival gigs when they raised $1,690.00 in a charity initiative that helps kids get into rock ‘n’ roll and skateboarding.

Known to fans as Canada’s loudest rock band, Hellbros defeated nine other bands in their race to raise money via the Beau’s Oktoberfest-sponsored #GIGS4GOOD charity fundraiser, which benefits Girls Rock Camp Montreal, Ottawa Rock Camp 4 Girls, For Pivots Sake (Ottawa) and P45 Skate Park (Montreal).

The #GIGS4GOOD initiative—which was sponsored by Ottawa’s Antique Skate, House of TARG, Montreal’s Pouzza Fest, Ottawa Explosion Weekend (OWX), Vans Canada and facilitated by the United Way Ottawa—raised a total of $3,643.33, the entirety of which goes to charity.

The band won gigs at three popular punk music festivals, which they will play in 2017: OXW, Pouzza Fest and the Black Forest stage at Beau’s Oktoberfest.

“We’re super stoked about playing these three festivals next year,” said Hellbros’ guitarist Christian Jurt, who added that the #GIGS4GOOD shows will be part of the band’s 2017 tour, which will also include several stops in Europe. The band also plans to release both a vinyl edition of their self-titled album and a new full-length album entitled Take the Animal in the new year.

“We’re really excited to release some new music,” added Hellbros front man Peter Jurt, “and now we have a chance to perform the new tunes at some of our favourite festivals, and we couldn’t be happier about it!”

The lion’s share of the fundraising was done by Hellbros and the second runner-up, Kingston’s Tighten Up, who raised $1,683.33—a difference of only $6.67. The two bands found themselves in a last-minute sprint to the midnight deadline on Sunday, Sept. 25 after Tighten Up dominated the fundraising in the months leading up to Beau’s Oktoberfest, which was held that same weekend in Vankleek Hill.

“Tighten Up would like to congratulate the #GIGS4GOOD champions Hellbros for their metallic efforts to raise funds for the Beau’s-endorsed charities with the United Way for Ottawa and Montreal youth,” said Joe Harding of Tighten Up. “Music is a great inspiration for people, and rock band opportunities for girls will make the world a better place.”

Harding said his band’s biggest donor, Ottawa’s KTL Group, would like to challenge other Ottawa-based companies to give generously when #GIGS4GOOD rolls around next year.

Beau’s Oktoberfest is the independent craft brewery’s annual signature fundraising event, and #GIGS4GOOD was just a small part of this year’s charitable fundraising efforts.

Aside from helping charities in its Eastern Ontario community, this year Beau’s launched a Kickstarter campaign to help finance the first women-owned-and-operated craft brewery in Rwanda, learn more at beaus.ca/rwanda/