Something for everyone at UNHCR Darfur fundraising concert

30 November 2004

LONDON - The Brand New Heavies, Roisin Murphy from Moloko, Antony Costa from Blue supported by guitarist John Themis and bass-baritone Sir Willard White are just the latest artists who have signed up to perform in a UN refugee agency fundraising concert.

Music lovers from across the board are promised an unforgettable night at the concert at the Royal Albert Hall on 8th December.

The event's designed to raise desperately needed funds for the crisis in Sudan's Darfur region from where 1.8 million people have been displaced.

Joining the newcomers will be singer-songwriter David Gray, lead singer of the Pretenders Chrissie Hynde, Simply Red front man Mick Hucknall, UNHCR's longest serving Goodwill Ambassador soprano Barbara Hendricks, disco-diva Jocelyn Brown, Grammy Award nominee Alison Moyet, singers Robbie Craig, Andrew Coleman and Daniel Pearce. Mario Frangoulis, the Greek opera star who sang at the opening of this year's Olympic Games in Athens and Ruthie Henshall, the internationally renowned West End and Broadway stage actress are also performing. Franz Ferdinand, one of Britain's biggest bands, is recording a song for the night and has donated their Mercury Music prize money.

Most of the artists will perform the music of Cole Porter in their own varied styles, and will be accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

These artists have all agreed to perform for free to raise awareness of the situation in the strife-torn region of Darfur which remains extremely volatile. More than 200,000 Sudanese have fled to neighbouring Chad and more than a million and a half people, who have been displaced internally, are living in desperate conditions inside Darfur where there has been a complete breakdown in security. It has been described as the world's worst current humanitarian crisis. Proceeds from the event will be used to provide international protection and life-saving assistance.

Funds will be raised by ticket sales from the concert and online donations. The event will also be released on CD and DVD.

The 'Refugee Voices for Darfur' concert is scheduled for 7:30pm on 8th December at London's Royal Albert Hall.