By Tim Saunders on
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.
“I was ready and I think the cause is so great – it’s essential,” said Barry Gibb, who flew in from the US the day before the concert. “I think we all need to be incensed about what happened and I think we need to care and I think we need to make the statement, so [that’s why] we’re here.”
Prince William and Prince Harry also made their first ever Australian address – via video – telling the crowds that they could “only imagine” what victims were going through and asked people not to forget the “amazing efforts” of the emergency services.
“It was a day for the ages, an event like no other that will live in the hearts of many Australians for generations to come,” said concert organizers, who went on to say that it was the biggest paying audience at any Australian concert or charity event ever. Millions more heard the concert on television and radio.
Among other bands to perform on the night were reunions of Hunters And Collectors, Icehouse, Split Enz, and Midnight Oil.
Copyright © 2009 Look to the Stars
