Superstars stepping up to raise money in fight vs. Aussie fires
As bushfires continue to rage across Australia — consuming 18 million acres of land, killing more than 20 people, destroying more than 2,000 homes, and leading to the deaths of an estimated billion animals — superstar artists from around the world are stepping up to do something about it.
Australian comedian Celeste Barber has been announced to emcee a marathon benefit show, called Fire Fight, in Sydney on Feb. 16, featuring a massive lineup of international and local acts.
Headlining the event are Queen and Adam Lambert, Alice Cooper, k.d. lang and Olivia Newton-John. But also featured on the show — which is slated to go for at least nine hours — are more than a dozen Australian artists, with more said to be announced in the coming days.
“There’s a lot of people involved, and we will be announcing more over the next week or so, hopefully delivering a brilliant and history-making night,” said event organizer Paul Dainty, who has worked on Iron Maiden and Michael Buble tours in Australia. Dainty said that there is interest all over the world in doing something for bushfire relief.
“I have been talking to managers and agents in the U.K. and America, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t know about how devastating it is,” he said.
Barber’s gig as host comes on the heels of a nearly unbelievable fund-raising campaign, which started with a modest target of $30,000. With the help of her 6 million social media followers, the amount raised quickly swelled until it became $50 million, the second-highest donation total for bushfire relief, trailing only a $70 million contribution from philanthropists Andrew and Nicola Forrest.
“Celeste has done an amazing job raising the money she has,” Dainty said.
“She is great with the quips and the dialogue that will bring another dimension to the day; she will be the glue to get through the day and night.”
The tickets will cost between $70 and $100, and they’ll go on sale Monday. Buyers will be encouraged to add an extra donation to their purchase.
The money raised by the event will be split between the Red Cross, regional fire services, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’s bushfire fund-raising efforts.