Five months into 2022, the world has witnessed natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, technological hazards, complex humanitarian emergencies, and the ongoing effects of the Global Pandemic. Throughout history, music has always found a way to not only raise awareness and funds but to unite and give hope to a demoralized world.
These shows are designed to draw attention to victims of abuse, climate change, and humanitarian crises, as well as to raise cultural awareness. Such charity efforts feature a variety of other performers, celebrity appearances and stage artists, in addition to singers, music bands, and other performers.
Live 8, Fire Fight Australia, Global Citizen Live, Venezuela Aid Live, and the Live Earth concerts are a few notable examples of such benefit music concerts. Since the pandemic, virtual concerts have grown in popularity and have become a staple in the humanitarian and fundraising segments.
Here is a notable list of charitable and awareness concerts held in 2022!
Justice, Art, and Music on Stage (JAMS)
Justice Art Music on Stage was founded in 2003. It is an annual event organized by Perfilma University of Indonesia that uses music and art to raise awareness about multiple issues. This year on 26 March, JAMS proudly presented ‘Breaking Gender Stereotypes’ with the tagline ‘Equality Through the Lens of Humanity’ as their theme for 2022!
The virtual event featured musical performances, art exhibits, and food vendors. The event brings together Indonesian artists while also facilitating people interested in contemporary art through our art exhibitions. JAMS featured the Indonesian rock band Reality Club, the alternative rock bands Skyline and MasBenin, and the Jazz, and R&B outfit Rechtovibe.
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War Child UK Benefit Concert
Electronic and alternative rock band Portishead performed live at the O2 Academy for the first time in seven years on 2 May 2022. This performance was part of a War Child UK benefit concert for Ukraine. Portishead played five of their songs, including ‘Mysterons,’ ‘Wandering Star,’ ‘Roads,’ ‘Magic Doors,’ and ‘The Rip.’
Also part of the concert was the rock band I D L E S, singer-songwriter Willie J Healey, punk music artist Billy Nominates, and singer Wïlderman amongst others. Proceeds raised were donated to War Child UK for their work supporting refugees and children affected by war and conflict around the world.
Tibet House Concert
Tibet House US has hosted an annual benefit concert and dinner party to celebrate the Tibetan New Year since 1989. The event features one-of-a-kind collaborations between multiple artists from various musical genres.
The 2022 Tibet House benefit concert was held virtually for the second year in a row for its 35th edition. The event took place at Carnegie Hall, where it has taken place since 1993 in New York City. This year’s performers included pianist and composer Philip Glass, singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper, punk rock veteran and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith, vocalist and instrumentalist Laurie Anderson, composer, activist, and musical director Tenzin Choegyal, and actor Keanu Reeves, who performed a poetry recital.
2022 International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF9pu7H3CMo&t=1085s
International Jazz Day 2022 All-Star Global Concert, which featured dozens of acclaimed artists asserting the importance of jazz as a means of attaining unity and peace via dialogue and diplomacy, was streamed live from the UN General Assembly Hall in New York on 30 April 2022. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and legendary jazz pianist and composer Herbie Hancock preside over and lead the event.
Shemekia Copeland opened the show with her single ‘Walk Till I Ride’, which was followed by a speech by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Chairman of the Institute of Jazz, Herbie Hancock. Among the list of over 100 performers were Herbie Hancock, Ravi Coltrane, James Genus, Randy Brecker, Brian Blade, and Zakir Hussain. Several performers from Japan, Australia, Colombia, Senegal, Switzerland, and Cuba rounded off the lineup.
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Concert for Ukraine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3Tjoe4SRhA
On 29 March 2022, a Concert for Ukraine was held at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena. The event was hosted by television personality Roman Kemp, radio host Marvin Humes, and former Spice Girl Emma Bunton. Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran, Tom Odell, Emelie Sandé, Becky Hill, Gregory Porter, Snow Patrol, and others performed. According to Variety, the two-hour event raised 17.6 million dollars.
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Other Notable Performances For Ukraine:
Queen + Paul Rodgers
Since 19 March 2022 and still currently streaming, is Queen + Paul Rodgers’s September 2008 performance at Freedom Square in Kharkiv during their Rock the Cosmos Tour. This concert was held as part of the ANTIAIDS Foundation to reach out to the country’s youth with the message ‘Don’t Let AIDS Ruin Your Life’, and it is now available for streaming to raise funds for Ukraine relief.
U2
Not for the first time, Irish rock band U2 took to a subway to throw an impromptu surprise concert. U2’s frontman and vocalist Bono along with guitarist the David ‘The Edge’ Evans performed in front a small crowd. The duo performed acoustic versions of their classic hits, including ‘Vertigo’, ‘Desire’,’ Angel of Harlem’, ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, and ‘With or Without You’.
U2 has previously given a surprise performance at New York’s Grand Central Subway station, and Berlin’s U-Bahn Subway metro station.
Antytila
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTxCxBorhj/
Antytila, a Ukrainian pop-rock band, performed ‘Stand By Me’ with Bono and The Edge. They were dressed in military uniforms and performed without rehearsal.
Pink Floyd
Rock Legends Pink Floyd reunited to release a new single to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Ukraine. Their song ‘Hey Hey, Rise Up!’ features vocals by Andriy Khlyvnyuk of the Ukrainian rock and pop band Boombox. The project began when Pink Floyd vocalist and guitarist David Gilmour learned that Andriy Khlyvnyuk had left a US tour with Boombox to join the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Bassist Guy Pratt has labeled it as “a cry of pain and a howl of unity.” The band has also recently released a clothing collection with artwork created for Ukraine that features the sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower. Pink Floyd will donate the entire net proceeds to Ukraine’s humanitarian relief.
