Entertainmentupdated 24m ago3 min read
MapHardwicke Circus Behind Songs Of Freedom Ukraine Charity Gig At Manchester’s Co-Op Live
“All proceeds go directly to verified humanitarian organisations on the ground:”
“Money will be raised for charities United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future), and Masha Foundation.”
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Hardwicke Circus organized Songs Of Freedom charity concert at Manchester's Co-Op Live Feb 3, 2027. Lineup features Bob Geldof, Madness and Peter Hook; Paul McCartney and Chrissie Hynde also listed.
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Songs of Freedom announced
Hardwicke Circus, a Cumbrian band that the BBC said were the first British outfit to tour war-torn Ukraine, is behind the charity gig Songs Of Freedom in aid of women and children impacted by the conflict. The concert is scheduled for 3 February at Manchester’s Co-Op Live, and the BBC said it will be streamed worldwide with Bob Geldof, Madness and Peter Hook among the performers. The BBC said Sir Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand and Sean Penn will appear via video link at the event, and the BBC also said the gig will be promoted by Harvey Goldsmith, who promoted Live Aid in 1985.
The BBC said the concert will raise money for charities United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future), and Masha Foundation, and it will include a special recording of the Ukrainian song Shchedryk (Carol Of The Bells) to raise money too. Jonny Foster said the band came up with the idea “in the back of their tour van,” and he said, “I'm from Carlisle, I'm not in them circles whatsoever, but we were motivated by our tours of Ukraine.”
Line-up and ticket details
The London Evening Standard said Songs Of Freedom will take place next year on February 3 at Manchester’s Co-Op Live and will be broadcast worldwide, with money raised going to United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future), and Masha Foundation. The London Evening Standard said 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. Harvey Goldsmith said, “We must stand together and play a role in pressuring the need to stop this war,” and the London Evening Standard said the concert idea was conceived by Carlisle indie band Hardwicke Circus.
The London Evening Standard said tickets will go on general sale on Monday November 16, with venue pre-sales beginning on Thursday, November 12, and it directed readers to Cooplive.com for further line-up and ticketing information. The BBC said the event will be promoted by Harvey Goldsmith, and it also said the special recording of Shchedryk (Carol Of The Bells) will feature the Songs For Ukraine Choir, the Royal Opera Choir and the London Metropolitan Orchestra.
Charities and the Shchedryk single
The BBC said the charities United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future), and Masha Foundation will receive money raised by the concert, and it said Foster described the support as including trauma support, de-mining and energy resilience for schools. The BBC said 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 ahead of the concert, also to raise money. The Hotpress article said the single will be released ahead of the concert and that all proceeds will go towards humanitarian aid, while it also said the event will raise funds for UNITED24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People of the Future) and Masha Foundation.
The Hotpress article said the gig will feature Madness, Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, and The Doobie Brothers, and it said virtual appearances will include Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand and Sean Penn for those who could not attend in person. Jonny Foster said, “Music can play a powerful role in people's lives and it's a songwriters' night, showing support for Ukraine - music can offer that kind of positive influence,” and he added, “Through music we're going to show solidarity.”