After the devastation of last week's earthquake in Haiti, the entire world is banding together to raise much needed funds. That includes the music world, as a fundraising concert entitled 'Hope For Haiti' is to take place this Thursday January 22nd.
George Clooney will co-host the event, and announced at last night's Golden Globe awards that he has roped in Bono, Sting, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys to perform on the night. Clooney will host the LA based part of the show, while Haiti native Wyclef Jean will take on hosting duties from New York. The show will be broadcast on numerous American stations, including NBC, CNN, HBO, VH1 and MTV, and will raise money for UNICEF, Oxfam America, The Red Cross, Partners In Health, as well as Wyclef's own Yele Haiti Foundation, which has already raised $2million dollars for the cause. Wyclef Jean has also been the subject of rumours that The Fugees may reform for a once-off charity concert for the cause also.
More locally, Whelan's will be hosting a fundraiser on February 14th with Andy Irvine, The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Mumblin’ Deaf Ro, The Hounds and Big Monster Love. Tickets are a very reasonable €15. And on January 31st, The Answer, In Case Of Fire, Panama Kings, Kowalski, General Fiasco, Cashier No. 9, A Plastic Rose, Not Squares and more will play Belfast4Haiti gigs at the Limelight, Katy Daly’s and Spring & Airbrake from 3pm, and David Holmes, Phil Kieran, Japanese Popstars, Boxcutter, Col Hamilton, Psycatron will be playing DJ sets at the Stiff Kitten the same night.
Meanwhile, Arcade Fire's Regine Chassagne has called for 'support and solidarity' for the devastated country where her parents are originally from, and Lady GaGa is donating all proceeds from her upcoming New York concert at Radio City Music Hall to Haitian relief.