What a difference a day makes.

I was definitely too young to remember Live Aid, the 1980s concert aimed at raising funds for awareness of poverty in Ethiopia. However the defining equivalent of Live Aid for Gen Y and Z would be its younger sister Live 8 in 2005.

It is amazing that it can stretch through 1000 musicians, 182 television networks and 2000 radio networks over 10 simultaneous concerts including Japan, London, Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome, Paris and Barrie. I found it amazing that this ‘community’ extended to texting in to get tickets, to the television and radio broadcasts and following Live 8 on the internet forums.

Who could forget Robbie William’s energy draining “We will rock you”, along with performances from music royalty – Madonna, Coldplay and U2. I remember watching the concerts and just getting chills, just to the enormity of the community event. Not only that, but that Live 8 made such a huge impact on the G8 millennium development goals (arguably only then).

What do you think of music festivals partnering with the community in some way? Is it just a way for artists to come out of retirement and boost their own bank balances or revive a career (John Farnham a la Sound Relief anyone?) or is it actually feasible in raising awareness for a good cause?

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