Concert hall to host charity gig
The evening will celebrate the NHS
A Lanarkshire doctor has organised a charity concert to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the NHS.
The fundraising evening, which will take place at Motherwell Concert Hall on Friday, June 1, has been organised by Dr Raj Padmanabhan, a consultant anaesthetist at University Hospital Wishaw.
It will include performances from Lanarkshire’s very own indie legends BMX Bandits and high-profile artists from India as well as NHS Lanarkshire doctors and nurses.
Dr Raj said: “East will meet west as professional performers and amateur artists, from India and the UK, come together in what will be an entertaining evening of musical diversity. To my knowledge, never before has such a varied combination featured in the West of Scotland; it is a special event to mark a very special occasion.
“We have received terrific sponsorship from local businesses to help fund the event. It would be great to have a really good turn out to raise as much money as possible. Any profit from the ticket sales will go to NHS Lanarkshire’s women and children’s services.”
Songwriter and lead vocalist Duglas T. Stewart, from the BMX Bandits, said: “I am one of many who wouldn’t still be on this planet if it wasn’t for the NHS saving my life. They’ve also saved the lives of many people that I love and care for and admire.
“If the UK has a true national treasure that should be protected from those who wish to diminish or destroy it, then it is the NHS.”
The star performers from India include Dr Jyotsna Srikanth who is the most sought after South Indian Carnatic violinist in Europe.
Dr Srikanth, a qualified medical doctor with a postgraduate in pathology, has performed at many major global music events and venues such as the BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, South Bank Centre, Barbican, The Music Academy Chennai and many more major venues and festivals across the world.
Other Indian performers on the bill are; Diptesh Bhattacharya, a well-known name in the galaxy of Indian classical music; Matyas’ who has worked with the renowned world-jazz-project Pulsar Trio - winners of 2014 Creoleglobal-music-award; and G. Venugopal an Indian playback singer who is well known for his musical work.
The highly-talented amateur artists include the awardwinning symphonic Glasgow Wind Band, who will play music from Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
There will also be a performance from doctors who are trained in Indian classical dancing.
The international stars will be joined by Muirhouse Primary School Choir from Motherwell. Not only were they winners of the Glasgow Schools Choir 2013 but many of the children were born in the maternity unit at Wishaw.
Tickets, priced at £10, are available at the Motherwell Concert Hall box office, by calling 01698 403120 or visiting the website at culturenl.co.uk/ nhs-70-charity-concert