ULSTER BANK AND DEA MATRONA PUT ON SPECIAL GIG IN AID OF NI FOOD BANKS

Belfast rock band Dea Matrona is this month set to feature in a special virtual gig in a partnership with Ulster Bank Northern Ireland that will help raise funds for and awareness of local food banks.

The trio will perform in the first of a series of virtual concerts organised by the bank called The Notes.

Inspired by the Ulster Bank’s new £20 note design which features street performers, the gig will also support the bank’s partnership with The Trussell Trust and its network of 22 NI food banks.

Fans can watch the virtual gig – which is being recorded at Belfast’s Limelight – free of charge on 15^th December at 8pm on the band’s YouTube channel. Viewers will be invited to make a small donation to the Trussell Trust.

The 40-minute gig will see the band, which counts classic rock bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles as influences, play some of their own material as well as popular covers.

Siblings Mollie (21) and Mamie (17) McGinn, – alongside their lifelong friend Orlaith Forsythe (20) – formed Dea Matrona in Belfast in 2018. They shot to prominence with a series of impressive street performances in Belfast that went viral on social media and drew praise from world-leading musicians.

Mollie says that she hopes the gig will give fans a lift in difficult times and raise awareness of the important issue of food poverty.

“It’s a great partnership and a big thanks to Ulster Bank for organising it with us. We’ve had to cancel some of our planned gigs due to the Covid restrictions and we’re really pleased to be able to put on this virtual gig to give fans something to look forward to. We’ve also been able to find out about the great work of the Trussell Trust and it’s brilliant that the gig will help raise awareness of food poverty and hopefully raise some money for a great cause,” she says.

Ulster Bank has partnered with the Trussell Trust to help its network of 22 Northern Ireland food banks provide emergency support this winter.

Ulster Bank Head of Personal Banking Terry Robb said: “The Trussell Trust does some fantastic work and we hope the gig helps raise awareness of their good deeds, and raises some additional money for the charity. Food banks have a really important role to play this winter and beyond.”

The Trussell Trust is working towards a future where everyone has enough money for the essentials, and it supports a network of food banks providing emergency food and support to people in crisis.

In addition to financial support, the partnership will see Ulster Bank team members work with food banks in their local areas. They will provide support such as fundraising, volunteering and food collections.

Members of the public can support the Trussell Trust’s work by volunteering, fundraising or donating.

Further information about the help the Trussell Trust provides and how to get involved is available at: https://www.trusselltrust.org/

Further information about Dea Matrona: https://deamatrona.co.uk/