Three years after the passing of legendary Leicester music promoter Andy Wright, a new fundraiser has been launched to honour his legacy and support Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Wright, best known as the long-time promoter and former landlord of the iconic venue The Charlotte, played a pivotal role in shaping Leicester’s live music scene for more than two decades. Under his leadership, The Charlotte became a launchpad for major artists such as Oasis, Radiohead, the Buzzcocks, and Joe Strummer.
Picture: Andy Wright (supplied)
Even after the venue’s closure, Wright remained a passionate supporter of live music in the city until his death in July 2022 from pancreatic cancer.
Now, music label Raucous Records—which once operated out of the office space above The Charlotte and collaborated with Wright on numerous events—is spearheading a fundraising effort in his memory. The initiative centres around a specially designed t-shirt featuring original artwork by renowned lowbrow artist Vince Ray. Originally commissioned by Wright himself, the design is being reissued with Ray’s permission and the blessing of Andy’s widow, Sharon Wright.
For every shirt sold, £3 will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer UK, a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by the disease and funding life-saving research. Early sales through social media have already surpassed £200, prompting a second production run set for September. Pre-orders are currently open.
Organisers hope the shirt will serve not only as a fundraiser but also as a tribute to Wright’s immense influence on Leicester’s music culture. For many music lovers, The Charlotte was the place where they discovered new bands or saw their favourite artists up close. For countless local musicians, it was where they first performed on a real stage—thanks to Andy Wright’s unwavering commitment to live music.
“Andy put many years of hard work into The Charlotte, and this benefitted the music scene in Leicester more than I can put into words.
He will be remembered for a long time by Leicester’s music fans for bringing thousands of bands to the city, some of which would go on to become stadium fillers, and others which already had a massive legacy,” said Howard Raucous, founder of Raucous Records.
“He also gave many upcoming local bands and musicians their first chance to play a real music venue or open for more well-known artists.
“I think that he would wholeheartedly approve of the t-shirt being sold in his memory and raising some extra funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK to support others who develop the disease, and their families. From my years of friendship with him, I know that he was a very generous man.
“As well as raising money for a good cause, I hope that this shirt being made available again will help to keep Andy Wright and all he did at The Charlotte and elsewhere in Leicester in people’s memories.”
The shirt is on presale here: www.raucousrecords.com/charlotte-t-shirt.html
