Look To The Stars News: Neil Finn

Neil Finn And The Hobbit Stir Up Interest For Charity

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Over 350,000 hits from all over the world have been recorded for a unique charity auction on Trademe.co.nz – which includes advice and studio time with Crowded House’s Neil Finn, an on-set visit with The Hobbit and Peter Jackson, immortalizing your face at Richard Taylor’s Weta Workshop plus a number of other brilliant personal experiences.

The hits on the Neil Finn experience alone are 200,000.

The Stars Come Out For Christmas charity auction aims to raise money for Sir Ray Avery’s charity Medicine Mondiale.

Visit The Hobbit For Charity

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Peter Jackson released the first trailer for The Hobbit this week, and now he is giving you the chance to visit the set of the movie in New Zealand to benefit charity.

The Stars Come Out Auction launched this week on Trademe.co.nz to raise funds for Sir Ray Avery’s charity Medicine Mondiale and will run until January 9th.

Also going under the hammer are the chance to record your songs with Crowded House founder Neil Finn and get your face immortalized by Hobbit effects wizards Weta Workshop.

Chimes Of Freedom: Stars Cover Bob Dylan For Charity

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:30:00 +0000

Two iconic forces that have impacted the past 50 years – the life-saving human rights activism of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Amnesty International and the incomparable artistry of Bob Dylan – are being saluted by 80 musicians who contributed new or previously unreleased recordings to Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International.

The collection is scheduled for physical (4 discs) and digital release in North America on January 24, 2012 through Fontana Distribution. It will be distributed internationally through Fontana International, a Universal Music company, on January 30.

Chimes of Freedom features a stellar and diverse group of artists across the generational and musical spectrum. The performers, including many of Amnesty International’s longtime supporters, range in age from teenage pop star Miley Cyrus, 19, to folk music legend Pete Seeger, who, at 92, records Dylan’s poignant “Forever Young,” with a children’s chorus.

Neil Finn Leads Concerts To Help Samoan Tsunami Victims

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn joined his brother Tim and a host of performers from the South Pacific for a special concert to raise funds for victims of this month’s devastating Tsunami in Samoa on Monday night.

Held at the Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand, the show was organized by Samoan rappers Savage and Scribe, who both lost family in the disaster. Also on stage were the cream of Kiwi performers, including Dave Dobbyn.

“You won’t see this combination probably anywhere else, ever again,” said the Finn brothers. “One of the nice upshots of this united effort is that you get a bill that is incredibly diverse and eclectic.”

Neil Finn To Headline Charity Concert For Samoan Relief

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A concert featuring Crowded House’s Tim and Neil Finn – and a host of other New Zealand-based musicians – will take place in Auckland later this month to raise money for victims of last week’s Tsunami in Samoa.

The Finn Brothers will be joined by Dave Dobbyn, Bic Runga, Elemeno P, Nesian Mystik, Che-Fu, King Kapisi and many more at Auckland’s Vector Arena on October 19. Also performing will be New Zealand Hip Hop stars Savage and Scribe, who both lost family in the disaster.

Aid agencies such as the Red Cross, World Vision, The Salvation Army and UNICEF are still seeking donations for the massive clean-up required after last week’s devastating disaster that killed over 180 people.

Neil Finn Gathers Musical Friends For Charity Album

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Crowded House singer Neil Finn is behind a new charity album that aims to raise money for Oxfam.

The double album, to be called The Sun Came Out, was recorded during the musician’s Seven Worlds Collide charity concerts in January and features contributions from Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing’s Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, and Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone.

“7 Worlds Collide is a great project – I hope The Sun Came Out is a huge success,” said Jeremy Hobbs, Director of Oxfam International. “Not just because it’s a unique musical experience but because each CD sold will make a difference – raising money to fund Oxfam’s work to fight poverty.”

Kylie Minogue Leads The Stars In Australian Charity Concerts

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Over 120,000 people attended the Sound Relief fundraising concerts in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday, March 14, to raise money for victims of devastating fires and floods in Australia.

The concerts have raised over AUS$5 million to go towards the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund Appeal and Queensland flood relief efforts, with some of the world’s greatest entertainers turning on performances of a lifetime for a good cause.

Coldplay, Jack Johnson, Taylor Swift, Kings Of Leon, Neil Finn and Crowded House, and Kasey Chambers were just some of the artists that entertained the crowds, which included celebrities such as Toni Collette, David Wenham and Shane Warne. Kylie Minogue appeared at the Melbourne concert with a special rendition of I Still Call Australia Home, and the Sydney concert was closed by Olivia Newton-John and Barry Gibb, who performed Islands In The Stream and a wide range of Bee Gees hits. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin also joined Aussie legend John Farnham on stage for a duet on You’re The Voice.

Kylie Minogue To MC Australian Bush Fire Relief Concert

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Pop star Kylie Minogue is to MC one of the Sound Relief concerts to benefit victims of Australia’s bush fires.

The concerts – to be held in Sydney and Melbourne on March 14 – will raise money for families of the 210+ people who lost their lives in last month’s fires, as well as the thousands left homeless. The Melbourne concert has already sold out – making it the largest paid concert event ever held in Australia, with 78,000 expected to attend – and extra tickets have been added to the Sydney concert.

Minogue will fly to Melbourne from India – where she is currently filming a Bollywood movie – but is not expected to perform musically at the event.

Seven Worlds Collide For Oxfam

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Here’s a series of events that our Southern Hemisphere readers will want to mark in their diaries for the New Year: Neil Finn is holding his Seven Worlds Collide concerts to benefit Oxfam in January.

The concerts – which will feature Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing’s Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, and New Zealand musicians Liam Finn, Don McGlashan and Bic Runga – will be held at the Powerstation in Auckland, New Zealand, on January 5, 6, and 7.

It is the second time the Crowded House frontman has held his Seven Worlds Collide concerts. He introduced the concept in 2001, and released a successful live album of the events. This time round the star-studded band will repeat the exercise for Oxfam.

SurfAid CD Helps Tsunami Victims

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:30:00 +0000

A new CD raising money for some of the areas of Indonesia still recovering from the Boxing Day Tsunami tragedy went on sale exclusively in New Zealand last week.

SurfAid – The Music has been produced by SurfAid International, an organization that aims to improve the health and self-reliance of communities in remote geographical locations regularly visited by traveling surfers.

The new CD features songs specially donated by acts such as John Butler, Bob Marley, Liam Finn, Neil Finn, The Black Seeds, and a special duet between Crowded House and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.

Kiwi Stars Record Charity Song

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Some of New Zealand’s best known international stars have recorded a new song to raise money for children in need.

Anika Moa, and Opshop have joined together for a version of Dave Dobbyn’s award winning song Beside You to raise money for the Raukatauri Music Therapy Trust, a charity that provides music therapy for special needs children of school age and younger in New Zealand.

“Everyone was there with the best of intent,” said Jason Kerrison, lead singer for Opshop. “It’s all about helping children with special needs, and knowing this helps you drive yourself and be there in the best capacity.”

Neil Finn's New Album Gets Crowded For Oxfam

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:15:00 +0000

Crowded House frontman Neil Finn has invited a host of well known musicians to join him in recording a new album for charity.

Finn has invited the core band – and a few special guests – from his 2001 Seven Worlds Collide series of live shows and accompanying live album to create a new album at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand, with proceeds going to support Oxfam.

Guests confirmed so far are Radiohead’s Phil Selway and Ed O’Brien, The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, Soul Coughing’s Sebastian Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano, Wilco members Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Glenn Kotche and Pat Sansone, and New Zealand musicians Liam Finn, Don McGlashan and Bic Runga.

Kiwi Stars Hold Charity Auction

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:30:00 +0000

World class rockers and sports stars from Down Under have donated items to a new online auction benefiting an organization that helps disabled and disadvantaged individuals develop their skills and abilities to contribute to their communities.

Past and present members of the All Blacks – New Zealand’s national rugby team – have stepped up to the mark with Olympic medalist Sarah Ulmer and Crowded House’s Neil Finn to take part in the auction, which is rasing money for the Gracelands Trust, an organization based in the North Island of New Zealand.

Founded and developed by Robyn Klos, the Gracelands Trust has developed from a small service supporting people in Te Awamutu to now offering programs throughout the greater Waikato region. It is based on a personal optimistic philosophy that it is possible to harness professional skills and knowledge with community resources and goodwill to provide a people-centered service, where everyone benefits.

It's Never Too Crowded For Charity

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:35:00 +0000

Half of the band is American, yet they originated in Australia, and the lead singer is a New Zealander. Veteran pop band Crowded House can truly be considered as one of the most international music groups ever to grace the airwaves. And even though they are currently halfway through a world tour to promote their latest album, they still find time to be part of a new collaborative CD to raise money for Oxfam.

“The Cake Sale” (CD /MP3) is a new record featuring a loose and expansive collective of musicians and writers, including Crowded House founding member Nick Seymore, who have combined to create a 9 song CD of previously unreleased recordings. Profits from the album, which also features Nina Persson from The Cardigans, Damien Rice, and Snow Patrol, will go to Oxfam’s Make Trade Fair campaign, as well as to their overseas program work. It was released in Britain in September, where it has already raised almost $300,000, and was made available in the US on October 16.

Crowded House formed in 1984, as a result of the demise of an earlier band called Split Enz. Ex-Enz singer/songwriter Neil Finn, and drummer Paul Hester, joined bass player Nick Seymore to form the new band, then travelled to Los Angeles. There they were signed to Capital Records. Over the next 12 years, the band released four albums, and garnered a loyal fan base with a strong repertoire of hits on both sides of the Atlantic, including “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, “Weather With You”, and “Four Seasons In One Day”.