The plan, called Operation Moonshot, depends on mass coronavirus testing, which, says the PM, would allow large gatherings to take place safely before a vaccine is distributed. This system would also give venue staff the authority to turn away individuals who show symptoms (such as a high temperature) or do not have a Freedom Pass at the door.

Johnson said that the city of Salford, near Manchester, will pilot the scheme, which could later be expanded across the country should its trial phase be successful. The announcement comes not long after several northern towns were placed under local lockdown due to rising coronavirus case numbers.

Hexmap showing the distribution of Covid-19 positive tests by specimen date in England by lower tier local authority.

Colour scale and figures in individual hexes show the total number of positive tests in a rolling 7 day period per 100,000 people.
https://t.co/uTnIVxgAzL pic.twitter.com/XrrrsHwSQG

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 9, 2020

As mentioned, Operation Moonshot’s viability is dependent on increased testing. The government recently stated their new aim to boost testing capacity to 500,000 a day by late October, hoping that, in future, ‘millions’ of tests could be processed daily; each test with a turnaround time of just 20 minutes.

The PM says the Freedom Pass system would allow people to behave ‘more normally’, confident to attend events and large gatherings knowing that they will not infect or be infected by anyone there. Acknowledging the importance of an appropriate testing regime, Johnson said: ‘We think, we hope, we believe that new types of test which are simple, quick and scalable will become available’.

Operation Moonshot was deemed ‘ambitious’ by the PM, but he expects that the Salford trials will run smoothly and that the initiative can be rolled out ‘nationwide’ soon after. He added: ‘We’re hoping the ‘Moonshot’ approach will work and we will be able to deliver mass testing which will give people the Freedom Pass, the ‘laissez-passer’, the knowledge that they are not infectious and can hang out with other people who are not infectious in a pre-COVID way’. While the prospect of regaining some sense of normality and being able to safely attend live events is very appealing, many have criticised the PM’s plan. 

WATCH LIVE: #Coronavirus press conference (9 September 2020)

Speakers:

@BorisJohnson, Prime Minister
Prof Chris Whitty, @CMO_England
Sir Patrick Vallance, @uksciencechief https://t.co/sF9DExB6EB

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) September 9, 2020

The project would require everyone hoping to attend an event, even the asymptomatic, to be tested for coronavirus. This is at odds with Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s recent statement that individuals without symptoms should not get tested, lest they add ‘undue strain’ to the ‘overloaded’ testing system. While Johnson hopes a more efficient process will soon be implemented to solve this problem, experts say such technology ‘does not, as yet, exist’.

Professor Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said: ‘It is important that people who don’t have a clear clinical indication currently don’t [get tested] because we do still have constraints. Those constraints are not just going to magically disappear, and the demand on testing has increased’. The Prime Minister would like Operation Moonshot to be ‘widespread’ by spring 2021, but until rapid, large-scale testing procedures are developed, it is unlikely to come into effect.

Smith confessed that he owes his increased creativity, motivation, and productivity to this year’s lengthy lockdown period, but acknowledged that 2020 has not treated everyone so well. He said: ‘I feel really sorry for the people who had plans this year, it’s been a disaster. From my own perspective it’s great that we got so much done… [But] this year has just been – just not a year – it’s just been completely weird’.

The extra time which came with this year’s quarantine months has been something of a blessing for the group, especially Smith, who has had a great deal of work to do for some time, but few opportunities to get it done. On the agenda is the band’s new album (their first since 4:13 Dream in 2008), Smith’s solo record (which has been on the table since 2001), and a documentary film (produced by longtime collaborator Tim Pope).

The Cure’s most recent album, ‘4:13 Dream’, was released 12 years ago

On the group’s plans for the rest of 2020, Smith said: ‘Our whole idea for this year was really finishing off the album we started last year, me finishing off the solo album, and also finishing digitising decades of stuff in order to make this film with Tim Pope about the history of the band. So, it’s actually benefitted me because there have been no other distractions, so I’ve actually got a lot of what I wanted to do, done’. 

The Cure revealed that their upcoming album is currently titled Live From The Moon (in celebration of the Apollo landing’s 50th anniversary in 2019), and has a ‘downbeat and heavy’ sound, the result of a recent family tragedy (Smith lost his parents and brother last year) and other experiences of ‘life’s darker side’.

The lead singer said: ‘I think I’m generally more of a balanced individual than I was 10 years ago…Before I used to write about stuff that I thought I understood. Now I know I understand it. The lyrics I’ve been writing for this album, for me personally, are more true. They’re more honest. That’s probably why the album itself is a little bit more doom and gloom. I feel I want to do something that expresses the darker side of what I’ve experienced over the last few years – but in a way that will engage people’.

Roger O’Donnell, the band’s keyboardist, said Live From The Moon is ‘going to be an amazing record’, but suggested that people be patient: ‘When you’ve got a back catalogue like The Cure, it’s a lot to live up to’. He agreed with Smith regarding the new album’s sound, saying it would be the group’s ‘most intense, saddest and most emotional record’. 

Thank you, it’s very emotional https://t.co/GuT4p1tMpx

— Roger O’Donnell (@RogerODonnellX) August 27, 2020

O’Donnell revealed that the album was near completion, but that work would not be rushed. He assured fans that the end result would be ‘totally worth waiting for’. In the meantime, Robert Smith’s collaboration with Gorillaz, a ‘spooky’ new song called Strange Timez, is now available for all to enjoy. Live From The Moon can probably be expected to drop in late 2020 or early 2021.

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

The group’s website gives a glowing overview of the upcoming record. According to their description, the ‘versatile’ new album was produced with help from Fiona Bevan (who has written for One Direction and Lewis Capaldi), Ina Wroldsen (writer for Britney Spears and Shakira), Karl Twigg (a collaborator on Steps’ first three albums), and a host of fresh contributors. On their new team, the band said: ‘We will never forget the past with Steps, it’s what made us… but we’ve got to look to the future too’.

The British band has called What The Future Holds their ‘most ambitious album to date’. They went on to say: ‘What the Future Holds is the best distillation of Steps so far; an album that shows both a deeper shade of blue and a brighter future… Showcasing the big melodic choruses of [our] top-tier bangers but also bringing back the harmony-laden ballads and some atmospheric mid-tempos’.

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We are SO excited to announce our 2021 #FutureHolds tour! Pre-order our new album What The Future Holds from the Steps Superstore now (link in our bio) for exclusive pre-sale ticket access next Tues Sep 15th. Tickets and VIP experiences on general sale Friday Sep 18th at 10am

A post shared by Steps Official (@officialsteps) on Sep 8, 2020 at 12:01am PDT

Steps are perhaps best known for their late 1990’s dance-pop beginnings, with hit singles such as 5, 6, 7, 8, One For Sorrow, and Tragedy first attracting an international audience. In 1999, the group’s Next Step tour was the biggest-selling UK pop tour to date; they received the ‘Best Selling Live Act’ BRIT award in 2000. However, despite their huge success, the band suffered significant in-group tensions and split the following year. They did not reunite until 2011.

A year after their 2012 comeback album was released and touring concluded, the band announced that they were ‘taking a break’, but not splitting. Their first post-hiatus album, 2017’s Tears On The Dancefloor, drew much greater critical and commercial success. Clash Magazine said the record was ‘Tremendous fun… packed to the rafters with absolute bangers’. The album entered the UK charts at number two (behind Ed Sheeran), and its 22-date supporting tour saw a massive turnout of enthusiastic fans.

2020’s What The Future Holds is set to be a nostalgic yet forward-thinking addition to Steps’ discography, and its 14-date UK tour is likely to be among the most anticipated of 2021. You can pre-order the new album, concert tickets, and VIP packages here. Steps’ UK tour dates are as follows:

November 2021

02/11/21 – FlyDSA Arena – Sheffield
03/11 – Motorpoint Arena – Nottingham
05/11 – Resorts World Arena – Birmingham
08/11 – Utilita Arena – Newcastle
11/11 – AO Arena – Manchester
13/11 – P&J Live – Aberdeen
15/11 – SSE Arena – Belfast
18/11 – M&S Bank Arena – Liverpool
19/11 – First Direct Arena – Leeds
22/11 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow
25/11 – The Brighton Centre – Brighton
26/11 – The O2 – London
29/11 – Motorpoint Arena – Cardiff

December 2021

01/12/21 Bournemouth International Centre – Bournemouth

Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine in a recent interview, Jagger confessed ‘I don’t know when we’re gonna get together at the moment. We don’t know when we’re going to get together and record. It’s got to be in safe circumstances and all that stuff’. He later told GQ: ‘It’s quite difficult; not impossible, but more difficult than normal. I hope we can get together this autumn and record some more material. We’ve got plenty of new songs to do, so it’s just a question of doing it and getting it finished’.

He also revealed that the band had already been working on some new material before the pandemic began, and that quarantine has given him time to finalise it: ‘I’m sure we’ll get together soon, but I’ve got to finish off the stuff we’ve already done. So that gives me an opportunity now to get that out of the way’. Jagger said the new music ‘Sounds good. It’s pretty varied. A bit of all kinds of different [genres] in there’.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards on ‘Goats Head Soup,’ life in lockdown, and why they’ll never quit https://t.co/sk2sbv6giQ

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 5, 2020

Jagger, along with his bandmates, has largely been staying at home since the group’s No Filter world tour was put on hold at the beginning of the year; fifteen North American dates were postponed with no rescheduling yet confirmed. The star says he has used his newfound free time for relaxation as well as productivity. He told GQ that, aside from reading and ‘watching the seasons unfold’ (which he admits he rarely has time to do), he has ‘Been writing quite a lot of songs and working on that, playing the guitar and singing’. On the pressure to be creative during lockdown, he said: ‘I’ve kept myself pretty busy on that front. I haven’t felt that I’ve been lazy’.

Since first coming together in 1962, The Rolling Stones have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums, 25 compilation albums and 120 singles. The band has survived multiple in-group conflicts and seen a total of fourteen members come and go, with four longtime bandmates forming the current line up. 

Guitarist and co-founder Keith Richards recently declared that the group does not intend on retiring any time soon, explaining: ‘You might call it a habit… I mean, it’s what we do. And also there’s that thing between us, like, ‘Who’s going to be the first one to get off the bus?’ You have to be kicked off or drop off, right? So it’s like that. I really can’t imagine doing anything else’. All this considered, it is likely that The Rolling Stones will release new music some time in early 2021.

The star added that exclusive pre-sale concert tickets can be accessed by pre-ordering Fake It Flowers on Dirty Hit’s online store before 5PM on September 8 (tomorrow afternoon). The pre-sale will begin on September 9 at 9AM before general sale opens on September 11 at 9AM.

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A post shared by beabadoobee (@radvxz) on Sep 7, 2020 at 1:01am PDT

As well as performing her own shows in a series of intimate venues, the 20-year-old is also set to perform at next year’s Reading Festival, which was recently criticised for its poor gender equality. Beabadoobee is one of the very few female performers on its 2021 line up.

Speaking to NME about Fake It Flowers, the artist said ‘Lyrically, there’s just so much more to reflect on, and with the sound, I guess, naturally after playing arenas with The 1975, I wanted to make songs that would fill those rooms. I wanted to sound powerful’; she says she even ‘went proper screamo’ for one of the tracks. The star is very pleased with how the record turned out: ‘I’m mostly just proud of my band and my producer, because they made this exactly as it sounded in my head… Every time I give them a song, they’re like, ‘yep, I know what to do’, which is the most satisfying, amazing feeling’.

“Fake It Flowers” my debut album. Pre order now! https://t.co/Ev2ZLZirTg pic.twitter.com/EitDz0l4jQ

— beabadoobee (@beabad00bee) August 5, 2020

Beabadoobee has received increasing recognition since releasing her first EP in 2018. She was nominated for the ‘Rising Star’ BRIT Award in 2020, and recently landed her single Care in the Alternative Radio Top 40. The singer also featured in Powfu’s mainstream hit Death Bed, which achieved platinum certification in six countries, including the UK and USA.

The highly anticipated UK and Ireland tour kicks off in Manchester next September and concludes a month later in Glasgow. Full tour dates and locations are as follows:

September 2021

07/09/21 – O2 Ritz – Manchester
09/09 – Beckett University – Leeds
10/09 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
11/09 – O2 Institute – Birmingham
13/09 – Junction – Cambridge
14/09 – O2 Academy – Leicester
23/09 – O2 Forum Kentish Town – London
24/09 – SWX – Bristol
25/09 – O2 Academy – Oxford
28/09 – The Academy – Dublin
29/09 – Oh Yeah Music Centre – Belfast

October 2021

02/10/21 – University Students’ Union – Newcastle
03/10 – The Liquid Room – Edinburgh
04/10 – SWG3 – Glasgow

Topping the 2021 bill are Stormzy, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Post Malone, Disclosure, Liam Gallagher, and Queens of the Stone Age. The majority of the other acts are also men, including Lewis Capaldi, Two Door Cinema Club, AJ Tracey, and DaBaby. Female acts include Doja Cat, Madison Beer, and Beabadoobee, but online commenters say that these should have been headliners, and that far more women musicians could have been booked. One widely-shared tweet lists a range of popular female artists, such as Lizzo and Dua Lipa, who many feel deserved headliner spots.

list of females that could’ve headlined reading and leeds:

dua lipa
billie eilish
florence and the machine
lily allen
megan thee stallion
lana del rey
charli xcx
clairo
lorde
lizzo
pale waves

— moll (@mollsspangled) August 31, 2020

Since each of next year’s festivals will boast two main stages instead of one, critics argue that their organisers have missed an opportunity to make the events more inclusive and diverse. While some fans simply expressed their dismay, others were angered by the news; one Twitter user calling the line up a ‘display of misogyny’.

As mentioned, Reading and Leeds have been criticised in the past for their male-heavy line ups. In 2015, a photoshopped image of the festival’s poster, which erased all the male acts and left in only the female, went viral. The edited poster highlighted the fact that, among nearly 100 performers, only nine were female, and none of them were headliners. Josh Dalton, who created the image, said: ‘I have a 16-year-old sister who is at the age I was when I started attending festivals. The idea that she could attend the event and quite feasibly not see a single female performer doesn’t quite sit right with me’.

#RANDL21 is going to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever Here are your SIX HEADLINERS across TWO main stages NO MAIN STAGE CLASHES General on sale Thursday 3rd September at 9:00am Reading : https://t.co/2JiEh36rfi Leeds: https://t.co/iG8BIzlOxD pic.twitter.com/n5yeQVvPY8 — Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) August 31, 2020

The festivals also have a history of not putting female-fronted bands on their main stages; in 2014, Paramore became the only such band to headline Reading in over 20 years. More recently, analysis of the 2019 Reading and Leeds line up showed that only 12% of the acts were female performers or female-fronted groups.

In 2018, organisers of 45 UK festivals joined an initiative to get a 50/50 gender split in their line ups by 2020, but Reading and Leeds boss Melvin Benn decided not to participate in the scheme. He remarked: ‘Is that the right way to go about it – to say it’s got to be 50/50? I don’t know that it is’. He instead launched his own campaign called ReBalance, which aims to give 36 female artists one week of studio recording time over the next three years. Benn said this would ‘create a bigger pool of female acts’, thus giving festivals ‘greater choice’ when booking performers.

Despite the recent controversy, Reading and Leeds have promised to make their 2021 festivals ‘the most epic’ yet, with over 200,000 fans expected to be attending. Organisers have also been working on a rigorous coronavirus testing regime, which they say will be ready by next year. Amid the current uncertainty in the live music industry, Melvin Benn has stated that he is ‘very confident’ that the 2021 festival season will go ahead as planned.

Around six months have passed since the venue was shuttered in March, and socially-distanced gigs have been officially allowed since August 15, but The Jazz Cafe has only now found a solution to safely host live music. The club, which celebrates its 30th birthday this year, will soon return to its ‘seven days a week’ schedule with a wide range of artists performing on its intimate stage.

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After 7 long months The Jazz Cafe returns from Friday 18 September with a jam-packed Autumn of exciting shows to choose from, marking the return of live music in London.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Only a limited number of 2, 3, 4 and 6-seater tables available each night.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ A big thanks to everyone who’s supported us through this difficult time – we couldn’t have done it without you!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Link in bio to see what’s coming up.

A post shared by The Jazz Cafe (@thejazzcafe) on Sep 2, 2020 at 3:06am PDT

Ruari Frew, head booker at The Jazz Cafe, confesses that while he is grateful for the support the venue has received, its current reopening plan is not sustainable in the long-term. He said: ‘We’re still a long way off where we need to be, and it will be very difficult to operate financially, but we owe it to all the people who make the live industry tick to give this a go’. 

Frew also highlighted the importance of getting struggling artists safely back on stage: ‘Our world is largely made up of freelancers, many of whom fell through the gaps of any government support. It’s crucial that we get as many people as possible working again in a safe environment’. The Jazz Cafe has served as a launch pad for countless artists over the years; many prominent British musicians such as Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Ed Sheeran performed here before becoming global superstars. 

It’s good to be back! We’re kicking off our opening weekend with firm Jazz Cafe favourite and resident groove-machine Dele Sosimi. He brings his legendary afrobeat party to Camden for two separate shows on Saturday 19 September. Tickets: https://t.co/4RkZHnwhyB pic.twitter.com/2HKmEBK6Vx

— Jazz Cafe (@TheJazzCafe) September 3, 2020

The venue is fortunate in having survived the coronavirus pandemic and being able to reopen; an estimated two thirds of British music venues remain closed due to ‘unviable’ social distancing guidelines. According to its website, The Jazz Cafe’s autumn reopening lineup is as follows:

September

18/09/20 – Sierra Band Present A Night Of Southern Soul
19/09 – Dele Sosimi & Friends
20/09 – Anime Film Scores performed by Piano & String Quintet
21/09 – Anime Film Scores performed by Piano & String Quintet
23/09 – Sierra Band presents Neil Young – After The Goldrush 50th Anniversary
24/09 – Live For Beirut
25/09 – Light of The World
26/09 – Osibisa
27/09 – Sunday Soul
28/09 – Havana Música: A Celebration of Cuban Music With The Latin Bridge
29/09 – James Copus And Joe Downard
30/09 – Cubafrobeat: Cuban-Afrobeat Explosion

October

02/10 – PBUG
03/10 – The Music Of Otis Redding with Reuben Richards And The Jezebel Sexted
04/10 – Beat Of Brazil
08/10 – Lola Young
09/10 – Tony Momrelle
10/10 – Cuban Independence Day With Sambroso Afro-Cuban All Stars
13/10 – The Howl & The Hum
14/10 – Fela Kuti’s Birthday With Bukky Leo & Black Egypt
15/10 – Balcony + Tayo Sound
16/10 – Jay Phelps’ Afro Cuban All Stars / Pyjaen Play Roy Hargrove
17/10 – Etta Bond
19/10 – A Night Of Whitney
20/10 – Loathe
21/10 – Howie Payne

You can purchase tickets to see these performances here.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) causes sufferers to experience recurring intrusive thoughts, which lead to ‘obsessions’ and uncontrollable (compulsive) ritualistic behaviours. A common example of OCD is having repetitive thoughts about bacteria, leading to an obsession with hygiene and the compulsion to repeatedly wash your hands. 

The ‘Pure O’ form of the condition, however, causes predominantly mental symptoms; sufferers like Ezra rarely physically acting upon their obsessive thoughts. The star explained: ‘We all know OCD. We hear of extreme cases when people have to flick a light switch a certain number of times before they can leave the house. My understanding is that it’s a physical reaction to intrusive thought patterns. Pure O is when you have [those] thought patterns without the physical [urges] to relieve them’.

Series 2 of How Do You Cope? … with Elis James and John Robins is out weekly from Tuesday 1st September

Guests include @george_ezra, @Emmabarnett, @MontyPanesar and so many more.

Subscribe now on BBC Sounds https://t.co/nqgushvYBK@elisjames | @nomadicrevery pic.twitter.com/UttTZFwvk8

— BBC Sounds (@BBCSounds) August 30, 2020

The disorder often makes Ezra have disturbing intrusive thoughts in social situations: ‘It feels like you go, ‘in this situation, the worst thing you could think is…’ and then you have that thought… Then you think, if you’re somebody who can have that thought, does that mean you are this person?’. The singer says these thoughts make him feel ‘horrible’, and used to cause a great deal of confusion, guilt, and self-punishment.

Ezra identified his condition while recording his second album, Staying at Tamara’s, and has been receiving therapy since then. He expressed that his experience has guided the songwriting process for his upcoming album, and explained that while his previous lyrics have been ‘escapist’ and ‘dreamy’, those on his next record will be ‘far more [about] addressing the idea of confronting these things’. He added: ‘That is daunting for all of us [but] I believe it’s the right thing for me to be doing’.

The British artist was at first hesitant to tell the world about his inner struggle, confessing ‘I find when people talk about their mental health it’s hard not to get clichéd’, but says becoming more familiar with OCD allowed him to realise that he is ‘Not a freak’ and ‘Not alone’. He explained that ‘The only reason I talk about this publicly is because I’m aware that somebody hearing me might [find it] helpful’.

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Here at OCD-UK we are passionate about supporting those who need us #ocd #ocdawareness #ocdrecovery

A post shared by OCD-UK (@ocdukcharity) on Aug 18, 2020 at 8:10am PDT

According to OCD UK, examples of ‘Pure O’ OCD symptoms include repeating words or numbers in your head, and frequently ‘checking’ your own emotions (such as constantly asking yourself if you are happy). The charity notes, however, that this is not currently a medically-listed term, and that ‘Pure O’ sufferers benefit from the same treatments as typical OCD patients.

If you think you may suffer from OCD and would like to receive support, please see Mind’s webpage about the condition. Here you can also find general information about mental health and resources to help you find access to care.

Earlier this month, it was announced that a special edition book trilogy about Iron Maiden’s first album would also be released in honour of its 40th anniversary. Author Stjepan Juras, known for his other books about the band, has produced a limited number of the leather-bound, wax-sealed volumes, which can be ordered from his website.

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Limited Edition vinyl coming for the UK’s National Album Day Out October 9, check your favourite record retailer.

A post shared by Iron Maiden (@ironmaiden) on Aug 25, 2020 at 6:09am PDT

Iron Maiden is the album which propelled the East London band into the public eye, and is the only one of their records to feature guitarist Dennis Stratton, who left the band soon after its debut. Following its 1980 release, the album peaked at number four in the UK charts, achieving Gold certification in Germany and Platinum in Canada and the UK.

Though today the group criticises the production quality of its first album and has since released remastered versions, the record was met with critical and commercial success. Bassist and backing vocalist Steve Harris told Kerrang! Magazine: ‘We didn’t expect it to go in that high… At first I thought someone had made a mistake… I made them go and check twice and even then I still couldn’t quite believe it’.

In the four decades since its debut, Iron Maiden has released 16 studio albums, 12 live albums, seven compilations, and four LP’s. The group has performed a staggering 2,000 concerts around the world, and, according to lead singer Bruce Dickinson, are ‘Never going to f-ing retire’; drummer Nicko McBrain even hinted earlier this year that new music could be on the way.

The anniversary edition of Iron Maiden, issued by Parlophone Records, is a 12” clear vinyl picture disc, featuring an image from the album’s artwork. According to the band’s website, the album is now available to pre-order and consists of the following tracks:

Side One

1. Prowler

2. Remember Tomorrow

3. Running Free

4. Phantom Of The Opera

Side Two

5. Transylvania

6. Strange World

7. Charlotte The Harlot

8. Iron Maiden

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A post shared by MIKA (@mikainstagram) on Aug 24, 2020 at 3:35am PDT

The singer, who last year released his fifth studio album, My Name Is Michael Holbrook, billed the upcoming show as ‘a very special performance’, adding that there will be ‘some surprises’ for viewers. As well as organising the benefit concert, Mika has also set up a GoFundMe page, where anyone can make donations to aid the city’s recovery; the page has already collected over £18,300 since being created on August 20.

Mika is of Lebanese descent and was born in Beirut, where, on August 4, 178 people were killed and over 6,000 were injured in an explosion caused by 3,000 tonnes of illegally stored ammonium nitrate in the city’s port. The artist wrote: ‘Beirut has been through so much and the resilience and strength the Lebanese people is undeniable. It is the place of my birth, a part of me and will always be in my heart’. 

 

 

 

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#Beirut A post shared by MIKA (@mikainstagram) on Aug 9, 2020 at 4:01am PDT

The artist’s announcement of the I Love Beirut show follows a series of online activity related to the tragic incident in Lebanon. In another moving letter to its citizens, Mika expressed his grief and deepest sympathies, as well as criticising the country’s leadership. He remarked: ‘I cannot but think of these two explosions as a symbol of a system which is shattering’. 

The singer said that it was this leadership which steered Lebanon into ‘a series of misfortunes’, which he argues led to the recent disaster. He called out Hassan Diab, the country’s Prime Minister, after he said that those responsible for the explosion would be ‘held accountable’. To this, Mika responded: ‘Those responsible for whom? For what? Those responsible for 30 years of agony which have turned the land of cedars into the land of ashes’. The Port of Beirut, the epicentre of the blast, is indeed owned and overseen by the Lebanese government.

 

 

 

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If you would like to find out more information on the charities I have personally chosen to support, head to the linktree in my bio   A post shared by MIKA (@mikainstagram) on Aug 9, 2020 at 3:51am PDT

Fans from across the globe have left messages of support under Mika’s recent social media posts. One commented: ‘These words – your words – resonate with me, echoing in my ears. I’m terribly moved by the way you wrote all this. This is when you remind us that your pen is equalled only by your candour. This is the artist I love’.

The Lebanese Red Cross, one of the charities receiving support from Mika’s September show, has been working on the front lines in Beirut amid the recent catastrophe, its volunteers providing free life-saving disaster relief. Save the Children, a British charity also receiving revenue from the performance, has set up an emergency fund to aid Beirut’s children, thousands of whom are now homeless.

Tickets to Mika’s I Love Beirut benefit concert can be purchased for £10 each, all of which will be donated to the above charities.