Joe 'King' Carrasco Brings Tex-Mex Party to Ukraine

The San Antonio-tied musician staged a rock 'n' roll tour across war-torn Ukraine last year, raising money for the country to buy more emergency vehicles.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:48pm

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Joe 'King' Carrasco, known for his Tex-Mex sound that fuses party-ready garage rock and new wave, recently embarked on a tour of war-torn Ukraine. Together with the UK band Hartewick Circus, Carrasco played eight dates at clubs in cities across Ukraine, as well as shows in hospitals and schools. The tour aimed to raise money to buy emergency vehicles for Ukraine, as Russian drones have repeatedly targeted such vehicles. Carrasco was buoyed by the enthusiasm of the Ukrainian crowds, who were eager to party despite the ongoing conflict.

Why it matters

Carrasco's tour and fundraising efforts in Ukraine highlight the ongoing struggles of the country as it defends against the Russian invasion. By bringing his high-energy Tex-Mex sound to Ukrainian audiences, Carrasco provided a much-needed morale boost while also raising critical funds for emergency vehicles to transport the wounded. In a world often dominated by cynical marketing and phony rebellion, Carrasco's willingness to risk his own safety to make a difference is a heartening example of true punk rock spirit.

The details

Carrasco and the Hartewick Circus band played eight dates at clubs in cities across Ukraine, including L'viv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Ternopil', Vinnytsia, and Kyiv. During the day, they also performed shows in hospitals and schools. Carrasco noted that the crowds were mostly women, as the men were out on the front lines fighting. The shows had an intense, life-or-death energy, with one audience member even auctioning off a 50-caliber machine gun belt during a performance. To avoid being targeted by Russian intelligence, the band had to use burner phones instead of regular cell phones.

  • Carrasco and the Hartewick Circus band toured Ukraine in June 2023.
  • Carrasco has continued fundraising efforts for emergency vehicles in Ukraine since his tour.

The players

Joe 'King' Carrasco

A Texas-bred singer-songwriter known for his Tex-Mex sound that fuses party-ready garage rock and new wave.

Hartewick Circus

A group of 20-something rockers from the UK who joined Carrasco on his tour of Ukraine.

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What they’re saying

“Ukraine is like Texas, man. It's like Austin back in 1980 at Club Foot. It's crazy but it's fun. Playing there is so much fun, because they need it. They're excited and they're not jaded.”

— Joe 'King' Carrasco (sacurrent.com)

“Our goal is to raise money to buy vehicles for the front, cars to take the wounded back to the medics. Each car saves 40 lives. Last tour, we brought two cars, so we saved 80 lives.”

— Joe 'King' Carrasco (sacurrent.com)

What’s next

Carrasco plans to continue his fundraising efforts to help Ukraine purchase more emergency vehicles to transport the wounded.

The takeaway

Carrasco's tour of Ukraine, despite the ongoing conflict and life-threatening risks, demonstrates the power of music to uplift and inspire even in the darkest of times. His commitment to using his platform to support the Ukrainian people and their struggle against Russian aggression is a shining example of how artists can make a meaningful difference in the world.