THE 1975 AND PVRIS BASSISTS TO CYCLE OVER 1,000 MILES FOR CHARITY

Photo Credit: Jeremy Banks (provided)

This April, The 1975’s bassist, Ross MacDonald, and Brian MacDonald, bassist of American pop-rock band PVRIS, will cycle the legendary route from Land’s End in South West England to John O’Groats in Northern Scotland, in support of Nordoff and Robbins. The route spans the entire length of the UK, covering approximately 1,100 miles in total.

Joined by their two friends Darren and Matt, the pair are completing this challenge to raise money for Nordoff and Robbins, a music therapy charity who have been supporting people across the UK for over 60 years. Dating back to 1959, the main ideas practiced by the charity began when American composer and pianist Paul Nordoff and British special education teacher Clive Robbins started exploring the potential of collaborative music-making to engage vulnerable and isolated children at Sunfield Children’s Home in Stourbridge.

Music therapy is a psychological clinical intervention which draws upon the innate qualities and power of music to help people whose lives have been affected by injury, illness or disability through supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and social needs. The primary approach of Nordoff and Robbins lies in the power of musical participation; the charity has specialist centres in London, Dunfermline, Glasgow and Newcastle. In 2025 alone, Nordoff and Robbins supported 12,200 people through providing 48,000 music therapy sessions in partnership with 317 organisations such as schools, hospitals and care homes. 

Speaking about the brilliant cause, The 1975’s Ross MacDonald shared: “I believe that music therapy really changes people’s lives. I’ve seen firsthand what Nordoff and Robbins do, using music as therapy. It breaks down barriers and it transcends language. And it’s something that everyone can connect with in their own way. My life is taken up massively by touring and being in a studio, and this challenge is pretty much the most opposite thing I could think of doing. I get to do this amazing ride with three of my closest friends. It’s going to be beautiful and horrendous, but will ultimately end with us achieving this incredible personal goal and hopefully raising loads of money for Nordoff and Robbins.”

Similarly, Brian MacDonald has stated that this venture was Ross’ idea, but upon researching Nordoff and Robbins himself he knew he had to get involved: “I just fell right into it and saw how amazing the music therapy work they do is.” He continued, “I’m grateful to be playing a small part in fundraising for this great cause. I’m going to be doing it for the people that will benefit so much from what we can get in terms of donations. That’s going to fuel me more than all the electrolytes, gels and carbs combined.”

Nordoff and Robbins aims to transform people’s lives through music. However, it costs £19,000 to train one music therapist for over two years. Through Ross and Brian’s ultimate UK cycling challenge, they aim to raise money to go towards this training, to make music therapy more accessible and continue the incredible work of Nordoff and Robbins.

At time of publication, the pair have raised almost £4,500. You can donate here.

Text Copyright 2026 © Alexandra Pullen/ADRENALINE Magazine.