There’s no question the recent Australian wildfires left Victoria and its residents devastated. But help is on the way.
Some of the country’s biggest acts are banding together for a pair of shows to benefit the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal and The Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund.
Sound Relief will take place March 14 at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Melbourne Cricket Ground simultaneously. The lineup features Aussie powerhouses like Jet, Wolfmother, Kasey Chambers, You Am I, The Presets and Hoodoo Gurus.
In a move sure to increase attendance, a number of former Australian hitmakers are reuniting for the event, including Midnight Oil (who last played together in 2005 to aid tsunami victims), Split Enz, Hunters & Collectors and Icehouse.
To further sweeten the deal, Coldplay and Kings of Leon, currently touring downunder, have also offered to play sets.
Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett, who was elected to Australian parliament in 2004 and became environment minister in 2007, told the BBC he might be a little rusty, but he’s looking forward to the event.
“I have hardly sung a note since the Oils last played at WaveAid, but this event is so unique and important that it will be terrific to now catch up with my mates and put on a performance that gives all those people affected by the terrible events what they dearly need.”
Tickets, which are an extremely reasonable $75, go on sale March 4. (It’s that plane ticket to Australia that’s the killer.)
General admission on the field and reserved seating in the stands will be available for both shows.
Read the BBC’s coverage of Sound Relief here and complete details about tickets and lineups here.