Sound Relief sets concert record

The Sound Relief concert to be held in Melbourne for Victorian bushfire victims has
sold out to become the largest paid concert event ever held in Australia.
Several international acts will perform and some legendary Australian bands have
reformed for two benefit concerts to be held simultaneously in Melbourne and Sydney
on March 14.
More than 78,000 tickets have been sold for the sell-out Melbourne event, which will
feature the likes of Kings of Leon and Kylie Minogue.
Extra tickets have been added for the Sydney concert, which will be headlined by
Coldplay and The Presets.
More than 100,000 tickets, at $75 each, have been sold across both cities, with the
profits to add to the more than $100 million raised so far for the Red Cross
Bushfire Appeal.
Half of the profits from the Sydney event will go towards helping Queensland flood
victims.
Co-organiser Michael Gudinski said he was impressed with the Australian public's
support.
"It speaks volumes of the passion of our great country, helping a mate in trouble,"
he said.
He also confirmed that pop princess Kylie Minogue will fly in to MC the event in her
home city.
"To me, Kylie is Melbourne," Gudinski said.
"Her attendance is the cherry on the top of an already phenomenal line-up.
"She's our girl."
Co-organiser Michael Chugg hinted that another addition would be made to the Sydney
line-up.
"This is the type of event that you'll be telling your grandchildren about many
years from now," he said.
For those who have missed out, the Melbourne event will be aired live on pay TV's
Channel V, while the Sydney concert will be broadcast on MAX.
XYZ Networks general manger of music channels Shaun James said they were delighted
to be bringing the event to TV viewers.
"We are proud to partner these events which, in conjunction with the wider
Australian music community, will continue to support those that have lost so much
and face not only a lengthy but costly rebuilding process," James said.
The Sydney concert will also feature Josh Pyke, Eskimo Joe, The Hoodoo Gurus, Jet,
Wolfmother, Icehouse, Little Birdy, You Am I and the Midnight Juggernauts.
The Melbourne bill features Jack Johnson, Augie March, Gabriella Cilmi, Kasey
Chambers and Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley, Liam Finn, Midnight Oil, Paul
Kelly, Split Enz, Wolfmother and Bliss N Eso with Paris Wells.
Tickets are available from Ticketek.