Madness, Bob Geldof and Peter Hook to play Live Aid-style concert for Ukraine in Manchester
Paul McCartney will play a part in the show along with many other stars who want to help the women and children of Ukraine
A Live Aid-style concert to support the people of Ukraine will feature performances from 80s legends Madness, Bob Geldof and Peter Hook, of Joy Division and New Order fame.
The Songs of Freedom concert will take place at Manchester’s Co-op Live venue on Wednesday, February 3, and, like Live Aid, will be broadcast around the world.
The Doobie Brothers, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Lowe, Inspiral Carpets, and Squeeze’s Chris Difford will also be on the bill with more acts to be announced soon.
Sir Paul McCartney will appear at the show via a video link, as will Barbra Streisand and Sean Penn.
Money raised from the show will go to support the women and children of Ukraine via the charities United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future), and Masha Foundation.
The concert will be promoted by Harvey Goldsmith, who also promoted Live Aid in 1985, 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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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, which will attempt to get the song to number one in the UK singles chart, with all proceeds going towards the humanitarian appeal.