BY LISA MACDONALD
SYDNEY Bands and performers from a range of music styles have joined forces with refugee-rights activists to organise a Rock for Refugees benefit concert next month.
The all-ages, seven-hour concert on October 27 will raise funds for asylum seekers and refugees on temporary protection visas, as well as for Free the Refugees Campaign and the Refugee Action Coalition.
The benefit is being strongly supported by Marrickville Council, which has donated the use of the 10,000-capacity Henson Park for the noon-till-sunset, alcohol-free event.
In addition to raising much-needed funds for the campaign, the concert organisers hope that using the medium of music will enable them to reach many more people with the message that refugees have a right to humane treatment, a safe haven, freedom and equality.
The concert will be part of a nationwide week of action for refugee rights, which commences on the anniversary of the sinking of the SIEV-X on October 18.
Andrew Denton, Deb Mailman, Georgie Parker and Claudia Karvan will each MC a part of the day. Offers of support have also been received from other sections of the entertainment industry DJs, performance poets, comedians, artists, technicians and even promoters at EMI.
Bands that will feature at the concert include Urban Guerillas, Dog Trumpet, Gas and the General, Jerry Salvador and My Name is John.
The positive response from both new and established bands, many of whom have written their own material on the plight of refugees, indicates the increasing breadth and depth of public support for change in Australian government policy. The sheer number of musicians wanting to support the movement in a practical way has prompted the concert organisers to begin planning a second Rock for Refugees in Sydney early next year.
Tickets ($10) will be on sale at all Fish Records outlets or via <http://www.ticketek.com> or <http://www.lastminute.com> from the beginning of October. If you would like to help organise or publicise the Rock for Refugees concert, or would like to perform at this or a future benefit concert, please phone Free the Refugees Campaign on (02) 9690 1977 or 9687 5134, or Lisa on 0413 031 108.
From Green Left Weekly, September 18, 2002.
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