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Boy
Band Blue Set for stadium
Source:
South Wales
Echo |
Britain's latest chart-topping band has joined the line-up for ShowTime at the Stadium - giving organisers hope of speeding up sluggish ticket sales.
Boy band Blue will take to the Millennium Stadium stage for the Live Aid-style show.
The group, who are at number one in the UK singles chart this week with Too Close, joins Sinead O'Connor, Atomic Kitten, Steps and Charlotte Church on the bill.
To date only 2,000 of the 50,000 tickets available have been sold for the October 20 concert in aid of the Red Hot Aids Charitable Trust.
Concert musical director Midge Ure, former frontman of the band Ultravox and a major force behind 1985's Live Aid, is confident the diverse line-up will still draw the crowds and make the project a success.
Organisers expected a slow start because of a combination of the summer holidays and a marketing campaign that is not yet in full swing.
Preview:
Steps line up for aids benefit
Source:
BBC |
Teen popsters Steps have joined the list of acts confirmed to play a massive AIDS charity concert at the Millennium Stadium this autumn.
Event partners BBC Wales announced A1, Damage and Sinead O'Connor will also join the line-up for the ShowTime @ The Stadium spectacular in Cardiff on 20 October.
The Millennium Stadium will host the event
The brainchild of former Live Aid organiser Midge Ure, the event is being staged with the Red Hot AIDS charity and will feature a blend of contemporary artists performing classic stage musical tunes.
Top of the pops trio Atomic Kitten, and singers Charlotte Church, Petula Clarke and Russell Watson will also draw the crowds to the stadium and more acts are to be announced in a few weeks.
The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 and BBC One will show highlights.
Steps are also set to perform at a special day for their fans at Legoland in Berkshire on 25 August.
Charity event
The Red Hot AIDS Charitable Trust is an independent charity which raises and distributes funds for community-based HIV/AIDS prevention work and education amongst population groups around the world at high risk of infection and illness
The show will be directed by international stage producer, Francesca Zambello, and artists will be backed by a 60-piece orchestra and a gospel choir.
Former Ultravox front man Ure is musical director for the event, which will kick off the bi-annual International Festival of Musical Theatre in Cardiff. The festival begins in October 2002.
Confirmation of the event came at a press conference in the Millennium Stadium in July.
Actress and Red Hot AIDS patron Jean Simmons said: "It gives me great pleasure to be part of ShowTime @ The Stadium where many great artists will be performing in this superb stadium in October to raise much needed funding for the global struggle against HIV and AIDS."
Super stadium
The Millennium Stadium is staking a bold claim to be the UK's top venue for entertainment and sport.
Robbie Williams and the Stereophonics recently played at the giant stadium and the FA Cup and Charity Shield, which Liverpool won on Sunday, are helping to ensure Cardiff is the home of English football.
Musical director Midge Ure
Ure, who helped Bob Geldof stage the groundbreaking Live Aid concert in 1985, said: "This is definitely not Live Aid II this is a very different concept.
"We are talking about bringing in songs from Broadway... so it's not just musicians - there will be dancers and a variety of performers.
"Seeing guys like Atomic Kitten perform something from a West End show will be absolutely unique."
Cast of thousands
Organisers say that there will be a cast of thousands involved in the production from gospel choirs to dancers.
Atomic Kitten's Liz said at the announcement: "We're thinking of putting on from cabaret and if someone gives a huge donation to the Red Hot charity then we'll wear some skimpy outfits."
"But not too skimpy because it is a family show."
Preview:
Aids gig promises 'unique' line-up
Source:
BBC |
BBC News Online's Sue Cass reports from the Millennium Stadium
Organisers of a massive charity concert at the Millennium Stadium to help aids sufferers have promised a unique performance from a star studded line up.
Charlotte Church and girl band Atomic Kitten are among the "big names" signed up so far.
ShowTime @ The Stadium will feature contemporary artists performing classic songs from stage musicals.
The event was launched at the stadium in Cardiff, on Wednesday by musical director and former Ultravox front man Midge Ure.
Mr Ure, who helped Bob Geldof stage the groundbreaking Live Aid concert in 1985, said: "This is definitely not Live Aid II this is a very different concept.
Seeing guys like Atomic Kitten perform something from a West End show will be absolutely unique
Midge Ure, musical director
"We are talking about bringing in songs from Broadway... so it's not just musicians there will be dancers and a variety of performers.
"Seeing guys like Atomic Kitten perform something from a West End show will be absolutely unique."
The concert - which also features Petula Clark and builder-turned-opera-singer Russell Watson - is to be held on 20 October this year will be a family orientated day with the emphasis on entertainment rather than just music.
BBC Wales is helping to organise the event in conjunction with the Red Hot Aids charity. The concert will be recorded for broadcast on BBC One a week later.
Organisers say that there will be a cast of thousands involved in the production from gospel choirs to dancers.
The Welsh born soprano Charlotte Church said that she was looking forward to the showcase.
"In this concert there's going to be a lot of artist experimentation," she said.
"Musical songs are some of the most beautiful songs ever written because they've got gorgeous words which do have a lot of soul and there's big meaty orchestras.
"I think it will give artists a chance to show off their talents."
There are expected to be a few surprises at the event with Atomic Kitten promising to put on a "performance of a life time".
Liz from the band said: "We're thinking of putting on from cabaret and if someone gives a huge donation to the Red Hot charity then we'll wear some skimpy outfits."
"But not too skimpy because it is a family show."
A number of top quality artists have been approached to appear in the event including Robbie Williams, but the final line-up has yet to be confirmed.
The event will launch the International Festival of Musical Theatre, which will take place in Cardiff every two years from October next year.
The Millennium Stadium which has established itself as a major venue for sporting events and concerts is currently a hive of activity.
The stage is being set for the Robbie Williams concert which is being held this weekend.
The sell out concert is just the latest in a long line of events which have been secured by the stadium management.
