Inside plans for music fundraiser to rival Band Aid – with huge acts lined up for unique project
MUSIC is a great way to bring people together and can often be a force for good.
Now Comic Relief mastermind Kevin Cahill has teamed up with music producer Paul Mitchell to create a charity to rival Band Aid.
Fest Aid, which will raise money for a number of good causes, hopes to get the world’s biggest rock and pop acts to submit live recordings from their tours and festival spots, which can then be turned into records.
Paul, who was also behind LP Think Loud 4 Parkinson’s — featuring artists including Roger Taylor and Leo Sayer — told me: “Kevin basically masterminded the whole Comic Relief thing and is the founder of Sport Relief.
“But he’s also been doing For One Night Only. The idea was he got Ed Sheeran, for example, to do a behind-closed-doors gig where people bid to be there and they have to hand their phones in at the door so the only way it is available is on the DVD afterwards, which you pay to see.
“He told me about that and that’s what gave me the idea of doing the concert record.”
Paul believes Fest Aid could be huge because artists want to help charitable causes but they don’t always have the time to get in a studio and lend their talents.
Fest Aid will create unique albums of live tracks, which means the artists only have to submit music they have already performed and recorded.
Paul, who also runs the Mitchell Acoustics speaker company, explained: “All these big acts go on tour and play Glastonbury and all that, and everything gets recorded. The artist owns that recording unless they license it to the BBC or whoever it might be.
“So I had this idea that if, say, Coldplay were to play Glastonbury, all we’d have to say to them is give us one track from your live recording.
“You don’t have to do any more work than that. Just give us that one live track and we’ll use it on an album.
“Doing it that way is a way that musicians can contribute without having to raise a finger. Giving a part of what they’re doing by making a living.”
Explaining how festival organisers like Glastonbury chief Emily Eavis and Isle of Wight Festival planner John Giddings can help, Paul added: “It doesn’t cost anything. Anyone going to the festival is taking part, nobody has to do anything that they’re not already doing.”
The most genius ideas are often the most simple and easy to execute — and this sounds like an amazing plan.
Guys, you’ve got Bizarre’s full support.
Studdy as you go, Meg
MEGAN THEE STALLION looked like she was ready to break loose in this studded bra top and trousers.
The Bigger In Texas singer, who performed at Coachella last week with Queen Latifah, Ciara and Victoria Monet, was back at the festival this weekend and ready to rock, including at a glitzy after-party in Los Angeles.
She was joined by Justin Bieber and TY Dolla Sign at the A-list bash, which was thrown for VIPs and performers from the festival.
Last weekend the rapper had a load of celebrity mates helping her backstage, including model Cara Delevigne, who shared snaps on Instagram of her and Rennee Rapp leading Meg to the stage.
Given how immense her set was, I’m sure she really went wild.
I just hope her hangover isn’t too grim today.
SAM ALL FIRED UP IN THE DESERT
GEORDIE Sam Fender might be rocking out on his Coachella Festival debut – but his heart lies at home.
The hardcore Newcastle United fan was amused to see one audience member in a rival Sunderland shirt .
So the quick-witted North Shields lad gave the fan a brilliant offer – but only if he’d burn his Black Cat kit.
Sam shouted on stage: “Set that on fire on camera and I will give you any tickets you want for any gig.”
He then laughed as the fan refused, before Sam performed 17 Going Under. Later he did Tyrant, which will be his new single out next week.
Fender fans say Sam deserved a better spot than the Mojave Tent – the third largest stage at the famous California desert bash.
With banter like this, I agree.
WILL’S A SUMMER SELL-OUT
WILL SMITH’s comeback album failed to set the charts alight but he is hoping his upcoming tour will help recoup costs.
Will is already close to selling out a string of UK shows this summer, although if you want the chance to chat to the man himself, you’ll have to fork out a fortune.
The VIP packages cost an eye-watering £1,290.
For that, you can expect an individual photo opportunity during a meet-and-greet, as well as a guided stage tour, access to his soundcheck, a signed poster and a merch pack.
I’d be surprised if many people have that sort of cash lying around.
The Sun told last week how Will’s first album in 20 years, Based On A True Story, had shifted just 268 copies in its first week in the UK.
But given he will be singing loads of his classic hits from the Nineties and early Noughties, I reckon his show will still be fun.
No doubt people will be rolling back the years and Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It by the time he arrives in Blighty.
MADONNA came out to back Brit singer Self Esteem at her gig in London on Saturday night.
Queen of Pop Madge watched the Mercury Prize nominee – real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor – from a private box as she did the final show in her residency at the Duke of York’s Theatre, before the release this Friday of her album A Complicated Woman.
REMEMBER TO SHOW UP, GUYS
WE are going to have to keep our fingers crossed that our Eurovision entry Remember Monday remember their clothes for the big event in Switzerland next month.
Quizzed on who is most likely to forget their passport, singer Lauren Byrne said: “Me. I’ve left it at the check-in desk before.
“I’ve left my guitar on a train, and twice this year I’ve been a bridesmaid and left my bridesmaid dress at home, so I had to drive back for it. It’s a real concern!”
ALEX WARREN is looking to make it to six consecutive weeks at the No1 spot with Ordinary.
According to Official Charts’ First Look, the American singer is trouncing Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club and Ed Sheeran’s Azizam, which are at No2 and No3 respectively.
Wizthemc and Bees & Honey are also looking for a brand new peak, with Show Me The Love expected to get to No5.
FRANKIE: IT’S NO TO A SATURDAYS REUNION
FRANKIE BRIDGE has revealed The Saturdays have turned down offers to reunite.
The girl group, who had 13 Top Ten singles including chart-topper What About Us, are seemingly one of the few Noughties groups not to have got back together.
And Frankie reveals not every member is up for it.
She said: “There are no plans. We have had opportunities to reform. Some are more up for it than others.”
Frankie and Rochelle Humes started their career in S Club juniors before being put together with Una Healy, Vanessa White and Mollie King.
Frankie also revealed that S Club Juniors have been approached about doing something, but she is yet to be convinced.
She told The Savoy Originals podcast that she wavers between wanting to get back on stage and thinking it may be best to leave it in the past.
She continued: “I flip-flop between the two, because it also happens [offers are made] with S Club Juniors.
“And I’m like, which one am I supposed to pick? I can’t do it all.
“I started when I was 12. I feel a bit old and like I’ve already done it twice. And I got to do it successfully and it’s not quite who I am any more.”
I’ve no doubt both groups would smash it if they went back on the road.
But The Saturdays have all carved out careers away from the band, so I can’t blame them for focusing on the future.
A Sheer surprise at Coachella
ED SHEERAN’s surprise turn at the second weekend of Coachella pulled in a massive crowd to the Mojave Tent.
My mates on the ground said the A-Team singer was such a huge draw that fans were shoving to get a decent spot half an hour before he was due to perform.
And Ed did not disappoint, playing hits Shivers and Castle On The Hill, as well as mashing up Don’t with Blackstreet and Dr Dre’s 1996 hit No Diggity.
I don’t think it will be long before organisers get him back as a headline act.
K-POP KAI HAD TO BUTTON IT FOR WORK GIG
HE went from being one of South Korea’s biggest superstars to working a nine-to-five job at a dementia care facility for his compulsory military service, which includes public service roles.
And singer Kai, who rose to fame in massive K-pop boyband Exo, dressed to impress in his new job – but admitted he quickly realised he’d made a fool of himself.
He explained: “Since I love fashion, I made sure my work outfits were stylish.
“When I started, I wore a shirt unbuttoned down my chest without wearing anything underneath. I thought it would be fine since I was wearing dark colours.
“But after I became friends with the employees there, they told me, ‘Don’t expose your chest that much’. After that, I buttoned it all the way up.”
And it sounds like his stint in the real world has made him the best boss for his team.
Kai, whose new album Wait On Me is out today, added: “Before, I never understood how the employees would feel but now if I see them working past six, it drives me insane.”
ANASTACIA has dropped a surprise for her fans in the middle of her Not That Kind 25th anniversary tour.
The Chicago-born I’m Outta Love singer has released a special vinyl edition of the debut album, alongside a digital deluxe version of the record, which includes remix bundles and a Dolby Atmos mix of I’m Outta Love.
Anastacia will perform in Dublin on Tuesday before heading to Belfast, Oxford, Birmingham, York and London, where she will perform two huge shows at the London Palladium.
The week in bizness
TOMORROW: FLORENCE PUGH, David Harbour and Julia Louis-Dreyfus will be at the UK premiere of new Marvel movie Thunderbolts ahead of its release on May 2.
THURSDAY: Former Strictly star Tasha Ghouri, who was born deaf, releases her book Your Superpower, in which she discusses overcoming the hurdles in her life and interviews other people with disabilities and differences.
FRIDAY: STEREOPHONICS will be going for a ninth No1 album with the release of Make ’Em Laugh, Make ’Em Cry, Make ’Em Wait, although they will be up against new records from punk rock veteran Billy Idol, singer-songwriter Self Esteem and, oddly, Hollywood’s Jeff Goldblum.
SUNDAY: ALEXANDRA BURKE, Joel Dommett and Romesh Ranganathan will be among stars running the London Marathon.
McFLY’s Harry Judd is also taking part, and aiming for an impressive sub-three-hour finish.