You am I gather music mates together for Concert For Kate

You Am I are rallying some of their mates, including Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson and Something for Kate’s Paul Dempsey, to raise funds for former manager Kate Stewart

You Am I are organising the Concert for Kate benefit night at the Enmore Theatre on March 15.

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Sydney alternative rock band You Am I are rallying some of their mates, including Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning, Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson and Something For Kate’s Paul Dempsey, to raise funds for former manager Kate Stewart who they describe as ‘the woman who gave us everything’.

Concert For Kate, that also features Sally Seltmann, Peter Fenton and Smudge, was originally set down for the Factory Theatre but strong ticket sales pushed the benefit concert to the bigger Enmore Theatre space on March 15.

You Am I are organising the Concert for Kate benefit night at the Enmore Theatre on March 15.

Stewart, who suffered a severe stroke on September 21 last year, was a vital cog in Australia’s live music scene as part of the teams behind The Big Day Out and Splendour In The Grass festivals for more than two decades but for You am I frontman Tim Rogers she was a driving force behind the band that has won 10 ARIA awards and supported big names from The Who to The Rolling Stones and Sonic Youth.

“Before we had half a clue our band approached Kate Stewart for some advice on how to get shows, how to make a record, how to be a group,” Rogers said.

“We asked her because she had a reputation for being a straight talker, no bluster and someone who thrived on getting stuff done.

“To our enormous surprise she suggested management. Rapidly we got an education in ethics and morality in a community where the edges on such behaviour were often blurred.”

You am I drummer Rusty Hopkinson described Stewart as “our centre of moral authority”.

“We shared floors, vans, longnecks, fights and a thousand sweaty hugs,” he said.

“She was the first person to give us a chance and the last person out of the venue for hundreds, maybe thousands, of shows.”

He said the band wanted to “give a little something back to the woman who gave us everything”.

Dempsey said he did not hesitate to jump in to support the Concert For Kate benefit night.

“You am I are good mates or ours and we did not give it a second thought when they asked us to get involved.

“A few years ago the touring guitarist for Something For Kate, John Hedigan, was diagnosed with cancer and Tim Rogers texted me straight away and said: ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

“We put on a concert for him too and Tim came along and sang a few songs with us.

“It is just that thing of mates helping out mates.”

Dempsey said Concert For Kate was not just a wonderful cause but concert-goers would also get to see some amazing live music.

Paul Dempsey will perform at Concert for Kate at the Enmore Theatre.

“People will come along with definitely see some collaborations that you wouldn’t probably see any other time,” he said. “Everyone is going to jump up and do songs together and there is some pretty unusual song choices in there as well.

“So I think it is a great opportunity to see this list of artists doing some very different things together.”

AUCTION AND DONATIONS

There will be a memorabilia auction on the night, as well as some great items which will be up for auction through Ebay.

You can donate to the Kate Stewart Appeal via Support Act

TICKETS TO CONCERT FOR KATE

Price: $58.50

Bookings: Phone [phone] or online