Cardiff Tsunami Benefit Raises £1.25m!
Photographer:Sara Bowrey
22 January 2005
The show, put together in three weeks, raised £1.25m for survivors of the Boxing Day tragedy which killed more than 220,000. All those involved in the event - from the performing artists to the 3000-strong crew - were donating their services for free. Tickets had completely sold out within three days.
Millions watched live on TV, radio and the internet, as the evening went off without a hitch and ended triumphantly with all of the day's artists - from Feeder to Goldie Lookin' Chain - joining headliners Eric Clapton and Jools Holland on-stage for a rousing rendition of 'Shake, Rattle and Roll'.
In between an eclectic line-up of acts that ranged from Liberty X to the Manic Street Preachers, the audience were shown a series of goodwill video messages from politicians including Tony Blair and Wales' First Minister Rhodri Morgan; as well as others like Mike Ruddock, the Welsh rugby coach, and Prince Charles. Sharon Osbourne and Bono also sent video messages while a surprise guest for the event was co-creator of Live Aid in 1984 Midge Ure, who praised the work of today's organisers.
Doors opened at 1400 GMT with classical singer Katherine Jenkins, from Neath, kicking off the seven-hour show an hour and a half later. Eric Clapton and pianist Jools Holland closed the night's proceedings at 2300 GMT as the final figure raised - £1 248 963, flashed across the giant screen.
Stay posted for our full review and photo gallery of the day's action.
Organiser Paul Sergeant, the stadium's general manager, said the evening has been "phenomenal".
He said: "The crowd have left singing. Everything has gone - for the whole three weeks - so smoothly.
"We have shown that this is Wales, we are capable of delivering . If the opportunity came round we would do something again."
Full Line-up:
1530 Katherine Jenkins
1550 Keane
1620 Raghav
1630 Charlotte Church
1645 Lemar
1710 Craig David
1730 Snow Patrol
1800 Goldie Lookin' Chain
1820
Badly Drawn Boy
1850 Aled Jones
1900 Brian McFadden
1915 Embrace
1940 Kelly Jones
2000 Manic Street Preachers
2030 Heather Small
2050 Feeder
2115 Liberty X
2130 Lulu
2145 Jools Holland and Eric Clapton
Related Artists
Related Events
Related Articles
Hide Search Results
