Who will headline when charity concert Sound Relief returns?
Some of the world’s biggest musical acts are in talks to headline a huge Sound Relief concert in support of Australia’s bushfire crisis victims. But who will perform?
Melbourne is pulling out all the stops to raise money for bushfire relief, with music and sporting stars rallying behind the cause.
Charity concert Sound Relief is set to return, while tennis superstars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams will be the star acts at the Australian Open’s Rally for Relief bushfire fundraiser next week, leaving Tennis Australia overwhelmed by their support.
AO tournament director Craig Tiley also confirmed Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki and Stefanos Tsitsipas will also take part in the charity event.
“For a period of about two-and-a-half hours we’re going to be showcasing the game, but also coming together as a community to play our part in the relief effort,” Tiley said.
“I’m really proud of the playing group because of the number of emails or calls I’ve had from everyone stepping forward, either giving money right away or making themselves available.
“I don’t think this is going to be a one-time event.”
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Tickets for Wednesday’s exhibition cost $54 and are available at ticketmaster.com.au.
The first Sound Relief ran in Melbourne and Sydney on March 14, 2009, and raised $8 million for victims of Black Saturday in Victoria and Queensland’s disastrous floods. Sound Relief 2020 will be a joint effort by leading promoters Frontier, Chugg Entertainment, Live Nation, Secret Sounds and IMC. While no dates or artists have been announced, it is expected to take place in Sydney and Melbourne in late February or early March.
It is understood the promoters will stack the bill with the best Australian talent and international acts with strong links to the country. Industry sources say Pink is top of Sound Relief’s wishlist, but the US superstar is on a year off after ending her last tour in November.
Elton John, who is touring Australia for Michael Chugg, will be a no-brainer marquee name if the dates work — his farewell tour ends in Sydney on March 7, with his next commitment being in America on March 26.
Frontier’s Michael Gudinski has strong connections with superstar acts including Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran (also on a year off), Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters and Taylor Swift.
Live Nation, which tours Pink, is also the promoter for Coldplay, who are not doing a full tour for their new album for environmental reasons, but are playing selected shows including a charity show in LA in late January.
Coldplay played the first Sound Relief, where they were joined by John Farnham for You’re the Voice, while Swift also played at the event on her first Australian tour.
Other original Sound Relief performers likely to get the call again include Kylie Minogue, Paul Kelly, Hunters & Collectors, Split Enz, Icehouse and the reformed Midnight Oil.
Jimmy Barnes, who missed out on playing Sound Relief but was instrumental in helping pull it together, would be an obvious choice — with or without Cold Chisel.
Other potential acts would include Nick Cave, Tame Impala, Vance Joy, Flume, Sia, Rufus Du Sol, Tones And I, Gang of Youths, The Teskey Brothers, Amy Shark, The Living End, 5 Seconds of Summer and the Veronicas.
Sound Relief 2020’s announcement on Wednesday follows promoter TEG Dainty announcing this week the Sydney-only Fire Fight Australia concert, to be held on February 16 at ANZ Stadium, with Queen and Michael Buble topping the rumour mill of possible acts.
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In another charity concert, Gang of Youths, Angus and Julia Stone, Briggs, Tash Sultana, Thelma Plum, Jack River and Ruby Fields will play Down to Earth, at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on February 26.
All of the profits will be donated via Red Cross and WIRES. Tickets go on sale at 10am today from Ticketek.
Originally published as Who will headline when charity concert Sound Relief returns?
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