SOUND RELIEF RAISES MORE
THAN $8 MILLION FOR CHARITY

The overwhelmingly successful Sound Relief concerts in Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday March 14, 2009 were a day of music, entertainment, reflection, celebration, surprises, and inclement weather that will indisputably live long in the memories of those that attended.

The most significant outcome of Sound Relief comes just over a month post the concerts though - namely confirmation of the sum raised for the charities supported by the event.

It was announced today at a press conference at the MCG in Melbourne that an impressive $8 million plus was raised across the two events with $7,159,760 being donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and $874,416 being donated to the The Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

In the month following the Sound Relief concerts external accounting firms BSA Partnership and moneypenny conducted a comprehensive audit of the two events and compiled detailed Profit and Loss reports which are now available for the public to view. These reports detail all costs incurred in staging the Sound Relief concerts.
Download pdf below or see Sydney funds raised »

The organisers of Sound Relief said; “We are thrilled with the amount of money raised by Sound Relief. It is no small exercise to stage two stadium concerts of such magnitude and the willingness of so many to provide their talent, time, labour and equipment free or at cost has allowed such a significant sum to be raised for the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Queensland Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

“We are proud to have been part of Sound Relief and hope the funds raised will help to heal the communities that have been impacted on by these devastating disasters.”

BEE GEES’ BARRY GIBB TO CLOSE SYDNEY SOUND RELIEF CONCERT
NEW RELEASE OF TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SYDNEY

Hot on the heels of the news that Melbourne’s SOUND RELIEF concert is now sold out and Kylie Minogue’s confirmed guest appearance in Melbourne, the producers of this Saturday’s benefit concerts are thrilled to confirm that the legendary singer/songwriter Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees is returning to Australia specifically to perform at the Sydney event.

Barry Gibb, backed by some of Australia’s hottest contemporary musicians including Jon Farriss from INXS on drums, will take to the stage on Saturday night to perform some of the biggest songs of all time.   

One of the most celebrated and successful artists and songwriters in the history of popular music, this will be Barry’s first major concert performance in Australia since his last appearance with The Bee Gees at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium in 1999.

Many Australians will always consider Barry Gibb and his famous siblings to be bona fide Aussies. The trio honed their distinctive style and launched their music careers while still schoolboys in Queensland, before taking off to conquer the world and going on to become one of the biggest-selling recording groups of all time.

Barry Gibb has always retained a close spiritual connection with Australia and said “I am truly proud and honoured to be a small part of such an incredible event. I shall be there with wings on my heels to help in any way I can the victims of this terrible disaster, let’s make it count for all of them. I’m coming home.”

Speaking on behalf of the producers, legendary promoter Michael Chugg said “It was beyond our wildest dreams to have someone of the calibre of Barry Gibb close the Sydney concert. With the vision and assistance of Kevin Jacobsen and Molly Meldrum we have made this a reality in five short days.”

This weekend’s SOUND RELIEF shows are guaranteed to become one of the defining concert events of our generation, all for such an important cause. Do not miss out on being involved!

While the SOUND RELIEF show in Melbourne is now a sell-out, new tickets have been released for the Sydney event but are selling fast.

Aside from the confirmed line-ups in each city, concert goers can expect a few more surprise guests on the day.  Concert attendees are about to be part of - and will witness - history in the making as both Sydney & Melbourne Sound Relief concerts unite for a very special (& once in a lifetime) inter-city live link up at approximately 7.45pm

100% of the profits from the Melbourne concert will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. 

For the Sydney concert, 50% of the profits will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and 50% will be donated to The Premier's Disaster Relief Fund Appeal in QLD to aid the victims of the Queensland floods.

The SOUND RELIEF concerts are this Saturday (March 14).  Tickets for Sydney can be purchased from Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au.  Please see below for playing times.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR SYDNEY
FROM TICKETEK 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au

Just announced - Coldplay now playing in full band/electronic mode opening Sound Relief Sydney...

THE MUSIC COMMUNITY UNITES
FOR TWO VERY SPECIAL BENEFIT CONCERTS
SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2009 – MCG & SCG

The devastation of the current Victorian bushfires has left few unaffected.  In response to our nation’s greatest ever natural disaster Australia’s music community have banded together for two stadium benefit concerts scheduled to run simultaneously in both Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday March 14, 2009 under the unified banner of SOUND RELIEF.

Michael Gudinski, Managing Director of The Frontier Touring Company said;
“The Sound Relief concerts are for the survivors of the bushfires.  The sad reality is that rebuilding their lives and communities will be a lengthy and costly process.  It has been phenomenal seeing everyone pull together in this horrific time.  Without doubt these concerts will be once in a lifetime events that will live on in the memories of everyone who attends.”

Michael Chugg, Managing Director of Chugg Entertainment said;
“Around the world, some of the words that are used to describe Australians include “big hearted”, “generous”, “battlers and “troopers”. These concerts will honour all of those characteristics of the Australian people, both those who have suffered so much through this terrible tragedy, but also saluting the heroes who fought against the fires, and the courageous people whose fight is just beginning. With the help of the Australian Music Community, these concerts hope to bring people together, not just on the hallowed turf of the MCG and SCG, but around the country as we share the joy of live music. We will remember those who have lost so much, and celebrate the heroes of this devastating story.”

Both concerts will be held in their city’s most iconic venue; in Melbourne at the MCG and in Sydney at the SCG. 

Some of Australia’s most legendary artists will be joined by leading International and Domestic chart-toppers. In city by city alphabetical order the line-ups are:

The concerts will be a celebration of multiple music genres, with artists playing short sets packed with hits.  Concert goers are encouraged to attend the concerts from start to finish as major artists will be spread across the bill right from the very start of the day.

Coldplay and Kings Of Leon, who both have sold out concerts on March 14 in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, have kindly donated time from their busy schedules to perform 3-4 songs in the early afternoon.

Tickets will be sold for $75 and will go on sale from Ticketek 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au on Wednesday March 4, 2009 at 9am.  GA Standing on the field and reserved seating in the stands will be available for both concerts. 

100% of the proceeds from the Melbourne concert will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal. 

For the Sydney concert 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and 50% will be donated to The Premier's Disaster Relief Fund Appeal in QLD to aid the victims of the Queensland floods.

Particular thanks is extended to the Victorian Premier’s Department, Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria for their magnanimous decision to move the Sheffield Shield final out of the MCG, in turn freeing this iconic venue to be used for the Melbourne Sound Relief concert on March 14.

Tickets to Sound Relief go on sale from Ticketek 132 849 or www.ticketek.com.au on Wednesday March 4 at 9am.  Get in quick for what is set to be a once in a lifetime concert event.

SOUND RELIEF
SATURDAY MARCH 14, 2009
MELBOURNE – MCG
& SYDNEY – SCG
TICKETS FROM TICKETEK 132 849
www.ticketek.com.au