31 m. ago Together for Palestine concert: Benedict Cumberbatch, Damon Albarn and Neneh Cherry take stage at galvanising and star

Scores of artists, speakers and activists appear at four-hour fundraiser curated by Brian Eno – but it’s Palestinian voices who make the biggest impressionThe sheer scale of it was boggling. A total of 69 artists, speakers and activists were to appear at Ovo Arena Wembley.There were stars of music: Damon Albarn, Bastille, PinkPantheress, Hot Chip and a festival’s worth of others. There were stars of stage and screen: Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Guy Pearce, Ramy Youssef and a huge supporting cast. There were the firebrands, the podcasters, the people you’re sure are important but you have no idea why. And there were the people who, well, you don’t really know what they’re bringing: the former footballer Eric Cantona, the Love Island host Laura Whitmore, the Chicken Shop Dates YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago ‘Shame on Them’: Listen to Mehdi’s Powerful Speech at London’s ‘Together for Palestine’ Concert

‘Shame on Them’: Listen to Mehdi’s Powerful Speech at London’s ‘Together for Palestine’ Concert  Zeteo

Politics

13 h. ago Why I’m hosting a concert for Palestine at Wembley Arena | Brian Eno

I hope tonight’s gig will have the same galvanising effect as the 1988 Nelson Mandela concert – and give people courage to speak out about GazaIn the summer of 1988 the music festival producer Tony Hollingsworth organised a concert at Wembley Stadium in London to celebrate the 70th birthday of Nelson Mandela. He offered the BBC the rights to broadcast it live, but the corporation was nervous. Mandela had been in jail since 1962 and, to the extent that he was a well-known figure, he had been branded a “terrorist”. Hollingsworth met BBC executive Alan Yentob, who was wavering. “Alan,” Tony said, “you’ve got to bite the bullet.” Eventually Yentob agreed, replying: “I’ll give you five hours. If the bill improves, I’ll increase the time.”Conservative MPs were soon organising a parliamentary motion, deploring the BBC’s editorial decision. Opponents of Mandela’s African National Congress (ANC) were right to be worried about the concert. The event was broadcast to a global audience of 600 m...

Politics

37 h. ago Florence Pugh, PinkPantheress and Laura Whitmore join lineup for Palestine benefit event

More star-studded names are announced for the final line-up for the Palestine benefit concert at Wembley Arena overseen by Brian Eno, as they raise funds for Palestinian-led charities

Events

7 d. ago ‘Neutrality should not be an option’: why are so many artists now speaking out on Gaza?

Musician Brian Eno and artist Malak Mattar, key figures in next week’s Together for Palestine concert, explain why artists are putting fears of a backlash aside and uniting in the call for actionA red carpet event, especially one to promote the new Downton Abbey film, is not typically a place for radical political statements. But at the film’s premiere in London earlier this month, that movie’s star, Hugh Bonneville, spoke out about Gaza. “Before I talk about the fluff and loveliness of our wonderful film, what’s about to happen in Gaza City is absolutely indefensible,” he announced to a visibly shocked showbiz reporter. “The international community must do more to bring it to an end.”Bonneville’s words may have been surprising for some, but they’re actually part of a larger pattern of actors, musicians, artists and cultural figures who feel increasingly moved to speak out. This week hundreds of actors – including Olivia Colman, Aimee Lou Wood and Mark Ruffalo – signed a pledge prom...

Politics

1 week ago Benedict Cumberbatch and Louis Theroux join Together for Palestine concert

A new wave has been announced for the upcoming show at OVO Arena Wembley which has been organised by Brian Eno

Politics