Katy Perry hits the Bright notes in free bushfire concert
US pop superstar Katy Perry wowed a crowd of 7000 fans in Bright in a free 75-minute concert last night, bringing two female firefighters onstage to be “serenaded by a pregnant pop star”.
Entertainment
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Katy Perry has delivered on her promise to give back to Australia in person after the bushfire crisis.
The US superstar drove to Bright to play a free 75-minute concert for 7000 fans last night at Pioneer Park.
Most tickets were given to locals and those affected by the bushfires including firefighters, with the rest allocated in a fan ballot.
“I knew I was coming down (to Australia),” Perry said. “I knew my effort could be a little more tangible than a tweet or an Instagram post or a donation.”
While Bright thankfully missed major bushfire damage, its economy has suffered a loss of tourism.
“Local communities really depend on tourism, that’s their economy,” Perry said.
“There’s more places like Bright all over Australia. I’m here to give that message of gratitude to all of them.”
Perry, who announced her pregnancy last week, stopped at a local ice cream store only to find a sign saying they’d closed early to get a good spot for her concert.
The Roar hit maker posed with firefighters backstage at the venue, signing helmets and was given a toy koala for her baby to eventually play with.
Perry dedicated Part of Me to firefighters and before Roar she invited an array of local emergency workers on stage to thank them for their service and got them to introduce themselves.
For two women — Dara and Steph — having a birthday Perry had a special song.
“Have you ever been serenaded by a pregnant pop star?” she asked the ladies, before telling the crowd to sing Happy Birthday “like you’re washing your hands.”
The superstar hoped her one-off show would create a “new memory” for the Bright community.