A concert in support of women and children in Ukraine will take place in Manchester next year, with Bob Geldof, Madness, Peter Hook And The Light and others among the acts billed. The event, named Songs Of Freedom, is set for February 3 at the Co-Op Live venue and will be broadcast worldwide.
Money raised will go to the charities United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future), and Masha Foundation.
Video appearances and live performances
The gig will also see appearances from Sir Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand and Sean Penn via video link, along with further live performances from acts including The Doobie Brothers, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Lowe, Inspiral Carpets, and Squeeze's Chris Difford.
The idea for the concert was conceived by Carlisle indie band Hardwicke Circus, who were the first British band to tour Ukraine since the outbreak of war.
Organisers on the event
The band's singer and guitarist Johnny Foster said: "We wanted to bring some light relief to people who have been through so much. We are proud to see this simple idea grow into an international night of solidarity."
The concert will be promoted by Harvey Goldsmith, who also promoted Live Aid in 1985, which was organised by Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for famine relief efforts in Ethiopia.
Goldsmith said: "I am really pleased to have the opportunity to play my part in helping the children and communities in Ukraine. This war has gone on far too long and more and more children are suffering as a result. The concert at Co-Op in Manchester will highlight their plight. We must stand together and play a role in pressuring the need to stop this war."
Charity single and tickets
Ahead of the concert, a special recording of the Ukrainian song Shchedryk (Carol Of The Bells) featuring the Songs For Ukraine Choir, the Royal Opera Choir and the London Metropolitan Orchestra will be released. The song will be supported by a national campaign to get it to number one in the UK singles chart, with all proceeds going towards the humanitarian appeal.
Further acts for the concert are expected to be announced in due course. Tickets will go on general sale on Monday November 16, with venue pre-sales beginning on Thursday, November 12. Further line-up and ticketing information is available at Cooplive.com.
