So far the show has failed in Japan and ironically...South Africa...
Small early audience at Johannesburg concert
Last Updated Sat, 02 Jul 2005 10:19:01 EDT
CBC Arts
The Live 8 concert in Johannesburg opened before a slowly growing crowd Saturday in a working-class neighbourhood of the South African city.
Officials have not confirmed whether former South African president Nelson Mandela will speak at the event.
South Africa's Mahotella Queens, performs at the "Africa Standing Tall Against Poverty" Live 8 concert with in Johannesburg, Saturday, July 2. (AP photo)
The concert and global broadcast began with a rousing performance by 4Peace Ensemble. Other performers taking the stage Saturday include veteran singing group Mahotella Queens, rapper Zola, reggae king Lucky Dube, Orchestre Baobab and singer Oumou Sangare.
Though other Live 8 concerts distributed tickets through text message lotteries and via websites, the concert at Johannesburg's Mary Fitzgerald Square has been left open – meaning the event could possibly draw the largest audiences of any of 10 affiliated free concerts taking place around the world. However, early reports say the crowd is still sparse, at between 5,000 and 7,000 people.
The Johannesburg concert follows the Tokyo opener, at which an estimated 10,000 people watched acts like singer Björk, rockers Good Charlotte and Japanese rap-rock band Rize.
The South African concert and "Africa Calling" in Cornwall, England – organized by Peter Gabriel and featuring some of Africa's most well known musicians – were added to the Live 8 bill after main organizer Bob Geldof and his multi-nation event were criticized for a lack of African artists and performers, despite the goal of raising awareness of the continent's plight.
Organizers aim to spur massive global awareness of the poverty in Africa and urge the leaders of the G-8 nations to dramatically improve aid to the continent, improve trade practices and completely cancel debt poor African nations owe to wealthy western countries.
African organizers have said that Saturday's concert will serve as the launch of Standing Tall Against Poverty, a concert series that will continue with shows in Kenya and Ghana in the coming months.
"This hermit-crab doesn't have cable so I couldn't subject myself if I had to.
I come from a time when "rock festivals" were an excuse to get together, get high, and listen to music. They weren't well organized, but they sure were a kick in the pants!
The "message" was the music. Nowadays, music (if you wanna call it that) is almost an afterthought.
At any rate, I hope they have fun and no one is injured...."
Exactly. And what's with rock music today and effeminate liberalism? Coldplay for instance are a bunch of vegan Hollywood wimps. What happened to rock n roll badasses?