Ever since Bob Geldof and Midge Ure set the gold standard for fundraising concerts with Live Aid in the mid-80s, musicians have upheld a proud tradition of using their art to champion charity.
A stellar line-up of powerhouse musos, presented by the Sydney Festival, will be following suit on January 11, with a one-off gig to raise funds for the NSW bushfire appeal.
Headlined by alt-rock Aria-winner Dan Sultan, this eclectic showcase boasts a range of genres to satisfy even the most fernickety of music lovers. Sydney duo Polish Club will deliver their perky brand of pop-rock alongside Brissie indie legends, Custard, while the electro beat-bringers of Art Vs Science stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the tongue-in-cheek rock'n'roll rebels, Regurgitator. The hard-edged yet ethereal pagan punk of the Neptune Power Federation rounds out the setlist.
Taking to the stage of the Metro Theatre on Saturday, January 11, this knock-out line-up will be donating all the proceeds from the evening to the Red Cross, to support bushfire relief efforts across the state. Sydney Festival will also be rolling out fundraising efforts across its program, with collections at all major events – including Symphony Under the Stars at the Crescent, Parramatta Park and Dodecalis Luminarium at Darling Harbour – as well after performances at multiple venues, including the Sydney Opera House, over the coming three weeks.
So, dig deep, rock out, and do your part to help the thousands of Australians affected by this ongoing crisis.