Springs to host top acts for tsunami aid

Some of New Zealand pop music's biggest names will perform this month in aid of the victims of Asia's Boxing Day tsunami.

Scribe, Shapeshifter, Salmonella Dub, Che Fu, Misfits of Science, Nesian Mystik, P Money, Pluto and The Mint Chicks are among acts who have waived their fee to take part in the benefit concert in Auckland.

The event, Live at the Springs, will be held at Western Springs Stadium on February 27.

The proceeds will go to Unicef and the New Zealand Red Cross.

Similar tsunami relief efforts have been held overseas, notably in Cardiff last month, when 60,000 people turned up for what was billed as Britain's biggest charity show since Live Aid in 1984.

Live at the Springs spokesman Patrick Fife said the fundraiser would begin around noon and would run for about six or seven hours.

He said it had the backing of promoters, record companies and music industry organisations.

Tickets would be $20, with children under 10 getting free admission.

Despite the short lead-in time for the event, Mr Fife said he hoped music fans would turn out in their thousands.

"We haven't got a firm monetary target in mind," he said.

"But we like to make it worthwhile for all the acts who have put in their time."

New Zealand Music Industry Commission chairman Richard Thorne said the effectiveness of music and musicians in fundraising was an international phenomenon.

 

Tickets are available at Ticketek, Real Groovy, Sounds stores or by texting LIVE to 858 from Vodafone mobiles.

MUSIC FUNDRAISER

The cause:Musicians have waived their fees. The proceeds of the concert will go to Unicef and the New Zealand Red Cross.

The acts:  Scribe, Shapeshifter, Salmonella Dub, Che Fu, Misfits of Science, Nesian Mystik, P Money, Pluto, The Mint Chicks and others.


The venue: Western Springs Stadium on Sunday, February 27.

- NZPA