Wales prepares for tsunami concert

Wales is preparing to host its biggest charity event today as 61,000 music flans flock to Cardiff for the tsunami relief concert.

13:12 22 January 2005

Wales is preparing to host its biggest charity event today as 61,000 music flans flock to Cardiff for the tsunami relief concert at the city's Millennium Stadium.

Charlotte Church, The Manic Street Preachers and Eric Clapton are among the stars set to perform at the massive Live Aid-style fundraiser, which organisers hope will raise 1 million for the disaster relief effort in south east Asia.

Tickets for the event, which was organised in just three weeks, sold furiously, with the initial 60,000 places selling out in three days. A further 1,000 tickets were snapped up by music lovers in just 20 minutes.

Millions more across Britain are expected to watch and listen to the concert on TV, radio and the internet on Saturday.

Commenting ahead of the event, Millenium Stadium manager Paul Sergeant said: "It's an amazing turnaround from where we were just a fortnight
ago. "

"We have incredible artists for what is going to be an incredibly successful event. We are on target to raise 1m, and that was what we set out to achieve."

"This has given the people of Wales an opportunity to give something back," he added.

Top of the Pops presenter Fearne Cotton will join Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman in hosting the seven hour concert, which will feature performances from twenty of Britain's top acts.

Classical singer Katherine Jenkins will open the show at 1530 GMT with renditions of the songs, Amazing Grace and You'll Never Walk Alone.

The 24-year old mezzo-soprano who hails from Neath said: "It's a completely different show to any I've ever done so it's going to be a great day."

All profits from the charity concert will go towards the relief effort, with all of the music artists playing for free.

In addition, organisers have confirmed that around 3,000 volunteers will be working their services for free throughout the event.