A large-scale charity concert, ‘Songs of Freedom’, is being organised in the UK to support Ukrainian women and children affected by the Russian war. The event will take place on 3 February 2027 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester and will bring together dozens of famous musicians, including Bob Geldof, Madness, The Doobie Brothers, Chrissie Hynde and Within Temptation. Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn and Ukrainian artists will also be joining the initiative. The concert is being organised by Harvey Goldsmith, who previously worked on the legendary Live Aid concert in 1985.
- A charity concert, ‘Songs of Freedom’, will take place in Manchester on 3 February 2027.
- Bob Geldof, Madness, Within Temptation, «Boombox» and Schmalgauzen will be performing on stage.
- Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn and «Okean Elzy» will be taking part via video link.
- The event was organised by Harvey Goldsmith, who had worked on Live Aid in 1985.
- The funds raised will be donated to four charitable organisations that are helping Ukrainians.
Who will be performing at the Songs of Freedom charity concert?
The organisers have already announced the first line-up of performers. Bob Geldof, Madness, The Doobie Brothers, Peter Hook & The Light, The Lathums, Inspiral Carpets, Within Temptation and other acts are set to take to the stage in Manchester.
The line-up of solo artists includes Chrissie Hynde, Nick Lowe, Midge Ure, Brooke Combs, Chris Difford and Davina Michelle. The Ukrainian music scene will be represented by «Boombox» and Schmalgauzen.
A separate part of the programme will consist of video appearances and messages from celebrities who will not be taking part directly in the concert at the arena. Among them are — Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, an American actor Sean Penn, as well as the Ukrainian band «Okean Elzy».
The list of performers is not yet final. The organisers have promised to announce further artists as the event approaches.
The concert is being organised by one of the founders of the legendary Live Aid
A British music promoter is in charge of organising *Songs of Freedom* Harvey Goldsmith, who helped organise Live Aid in 1985. At that time, large-scale concerts in London and Philadelphia brought together international stars to raise funds to help those affected by famine in Ethiopia.
The idea for the new charity show came about thanks to the British indie rock band Hardwicke Circus. The musicians visited Ukraine after the full-scale invasion began and performed for local audiences. Their initiative subsequently developed into an international music project.
Goldsmith emphasised that the war has gone on for far too long, and the number of children suffering from its consequences continues to rise. He said the concert is intended to draw the international community’s attention to the plight of Ukrainians.
Who will receive the money, and when will ticket sales begin?
Funds from Songs of Freedom Four charitable organisations will receive the funds: UNITED24, the «Voices of Children» Foundation, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk’s «People of the Future» Charitable Foundation, and the Masha Foundation. The aid will be directed, in particular, towards psychological support, education, medical needs and humanitarian programmes for Ukrainian women and children.
In the run-up to the concert, there are also plans to release a special recording of the Ukrainian «Shchedryk», known worldwide as ‘Carol of the Bells’. The Songs for Ukraine choir, the Royal Opera Chorus and the London Metropolitan Orchestra will take part in the recording. The organisers plan to promote the release with a campaign in the UK music charts.
Advance ticket sales for the concert will begin on 12 November, with general sales starting on 16 November 2026. The event itself will take place on 3 February 2027 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester.
