Bob Geldof, one of the world’s most recognisable rock stars, will be performing live at Manoel Island on Wednesday, 28 June, the eve of a public holiday. The concert, which will raise funds for the YMCA Valletta, is being presented by Vodafone Malta Ltd and HSBC Bank Malta plc and will also feature performances by Maltese artists Carrie & Band, Ira Losco and Winter Moods. Also supporting Bob Geldof on the night will be tribute bands from the UK for Coldplay, U2, and Queen.
“Bob Geldof is not just a musician. He is also one of the world’s most prominent and successful activists in the global fight against poverty and economic injustice. For YMCA, the fact that such an internationally renowned figure has agreed to come and perform here, helping us to raise funds for the YMCA social programmes and create more awareness on homelessness, is a real morale booster,” said YMCA Valletta chairman Jean Paul Mifsud.
The first 1,000 tickets for this concert, priced at Lm7 each, are now on sale exclusively from Vodafone’s retail outlet on the university campus. Students are also entitled to use their smart card. Remaining tickets for the concert, at Lm10, will then go on sale from all Vodafone retail outlets in Malta and Gozo. 200 tickets for the Camilleri Wines VIP area, which include seating, catering and an open bar, are also available at Lm50 each.
“Every individual and every organisation has a responsibility to their community,” said HSBC Malta head of marketing Brian Tortell.
“Many of us try to do our bit. Some, like Bob Geldof, make it their life’s work to help those in the greatest need. HSBC focuses on two issues which it feels are important: the environment and education. These two issues are crucial to long-term economic sustainability. Education is especially important for children of disadvantaged backgrounds, who are perhaps the greatest victims of poverty. The YMCA has a difficult task dealing with the issue of homelessness and HSBC Cares For Children Fund is delighted to help YMCA with this concert,” he said.
The YMCA assists many different groups of people, including troubled families, homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence and people living in substandard accommodation. The organisation deals with approximately 50 individuals every day, while more than 20 people every day, mainly women and children, take shelter at the YMCA’s homeless shelter Dar Niki Cassar, which provides not just a place to sleep but also many other support services to homeless individuals. Last year, more than 9,000 people benefited from the YMCA social work through 6,405 cases.
“The problems of homelessness in Malta are real. The figures published by the YMCA are proof enough,” said Vodafone chief commercial officer Paul Bahia.
“Vodafone understands that the YMCA depends on a lot of dedicated people and the generosity of the community to operate and that is why we are here today. As well as sponsoring the concert itself, Vodafone is also here to publicly support the pro-active and innovative approach which the YMCA adopts to raise money, organising many different events. We believe it is important to help people who are also willing to help themselves and would encourage other organisations to adopt a similar approach,” he said.
Bob Geldof came to fame in the mid-1970s as leader of the Boomtown Rats, a rock group closely linked with the punk movement. The band enjoyed great success with singles such as Rat Trap and its follow-up, I Don’t Like Mondays. Following the decline in the band’s career in the mid-1980s, Geldof has released a number of solo albums and worked as a DJ, actor and television producer. He is most famous as being the co-author of the song Do They Know its Christmas?, released in 1984. The song, which raised millions for those suffering from famine in Ethiopia, became the biggest selling single ever in the UK and led to the famous Live Aid concert. Most recently, Geldof was again at the forefront of global campaigning against poverty, particularly through the Live 8 concerts held on 2 July 2005.
“Few people in the world have a higher profile than Bob Geldof. He is a talented musician and a global ambassador for those who do not have a voice. This forthcoming concert is, therefore, not only an opportunity for the YMCA to raise much-needed funds. It is also an opportunity for Malta to show its solidarity with those who need help, here in our own community and across the world. Wherever he goes, Bob Geldof attracts a lot of interest from the international media and we should take the opportunity of this concert to also show our commitment to fighting local problems,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo.
It is also supported by The Radisson SAS Golden Sands, The Malta Tourism Authority, Air Malta, MIDI plc, Maltapost plc, Progress Press, Keith & Co, Resources and Infrastructure Ministry, Classic Rock, Typecult, Renaissance Productions Ltd, Camilleri Wines, Godwin’s garage, Sign-It, Probe Security, National Youth Council and XFM.
On the night, doors will open at 6pm.