Powderfinger's online reunion concert has raised almost $500,000 for charities supporting the music and arts industries affected.
Key points:
- Powderfinger's Darren Middleton says the band was blown away by the generosity of fans following an online reunion gig
- The band played to together for the first time in a decade to raise money for those struggling in the music and arts industry
- The money will be used to provide practical support and to fund mental health services
The set delighted fans who had waited 10 years to see the band perform again, albeit from the members' homes via YouTube, with the concert being viewed more than 500,000 times.
One of the charities to benefit from the performance was Support Act, which provides mental health and crisis support to people in the music industry.
"We're overwhelmed with more than $450,000 raised, which is incredible with our original target being much more modest, so it's surprised everybody," chief executive Clive Miller told ABC Radio Brisbane.
"The band is over the moon … and all of us at Support Act and Beyond Blue are so happy."
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First to go, last to return
Mr Miller said those who had lost work in the music and arts industries were in great need of support.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people in the music and arts sectors who have been brutally affected, overnight, by the pandemic," he said.
"One of the big challenges is we don't know how long this will be going on for, as the music and arts were some of the first affected and will probably be the last to get back to full-time work.
"We're bracing ourselves to provide support to people who [could be] struggling for possibly up to 12 months."
Funds to boost counselling service
The group will use the funds to provide crisis relief to artists, crew and music workers facing financial hardship, with their goal being to ensure they can help people "remain housed, connected and healthy".
"The grants we provide are so people can pay their rent, put food on the table, car registration, medical bills and equipment," Mr Miller said.
"We also provide the Support Art Wellbeing Hotline, which is a free 24/7 phone counselling service, which is available to anyone in the music industry.
"We've expanded the service in the last few weeks for anyone working in the arts across Australia, traffic on the line has increase by 60 per cent over the last couple of weeks."
Powderfinger member Darren Middleton thanked fans on social media on Sunday following the performance, highlighting their generosity.
"At the heart of it you guys raised over $400,000 for support act and beyond blue and it's incredible," he said.
"It's blown our minds, particularly given to the circumstances of these times.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA1LTI1L3Bvd2RlcmZpbmdlci1vbmUtbmlnaHQtbG9uZWx5LWdpZy1yYWlzZXMtNDUwMDAwLWZvci1jaGFyaXR5LzEyMjgzNDgy0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyMjgzNDgy?oc=5
2020-05-25 08:10:32Z
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