Musicians Brian Eno, Damon Albarn, and Celeste team up for the "Together For Palestine" benefit concert, successfully gathering £1.5 million in funds
In a heartwarming display of solidarity, an array of renowned artists gathered at the OVO Arena Wembley for a special event aimed at raising funds for Palestine. The concert, known as Together For Palestine, brought together a diverse lineup of performers, including Yasiin Bey, Gorillaz, Omar Souleyman, and Damon Albarn himself.
The event was a resounding success, managing to raise nearly £1.5 million from ticket sales and private donations. With additional fundraising initiatives in the pipeline, the organisers hope to raise even more for this worthy cause.
The evening was filled with captivating performances. Brian Eno and over 150 other figures, including Damon Albarn, Paul Weller, Adnan Joubran, Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor, and Nadine Shah, took to the stage to entertain the crowd. Notable performances included Annie Lennox's one-off rendition of Why? - For Gaza, with the proceeds going to the Together For Palestine Fund.
Neneh Cherry, Greentea Peng, Dan Smith of Bastille, Cat Burns, and Rachel Chinouriri collaborated on a powerful performance of 7 Seconds. The up-and-coming artists Cat Burns and Rachel Chinouriri also performed their collaboration Even, while Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna enchanted the audience with her performance of Olive Branch (Ghosn Zeytoun).
The concert was not just about music. Gazan painter Malak Mattar provided stunning visuals for the event, and a reading of the Khaled Juma poem Oh Rascal Children Of Gaza was delivered, adding poignancy to the evening.
The funds raised will be distributed to Palestinian-led organisations such as Taawon, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and Palestine Medical Relief Service. This ensures that the money raised will directly benefit those in need in Palestine.
The concert also paid tribute to Suleiman al-Obeid, a Palestinian footballer known as the 'Palestinian Pelé', who was tragically killed by Israeli forces. Eric Cantona and footballer Mahmoud Sarsak honoured Sarsak's teammate during the event.
Rina Sawayama closed the show, accompanied by executive producer and actor Khalid Abdalla. The concert was a testament to the power of music and art in bringing people together for a common cause.
While specific individuals who have recently contributed to the Together For Palestine Fund beyond those named in the concert are not widely reported, the event undoubtedly marks a significant step in raising awareness and funds for Palestine.
