A host of Australia’s top artists will band together for a benefit concert in support of marriage equality.
The LiveAid-style gig, titled YesFest, will be held at Sydney’s Spotless Stadium on Sunday, October 29.
Jimmy Barnes will be a special guest along with Client Liaison, Flight Facilities (DJ), Heaps Gay DJs, Jack Colwell, Kirin J Callinan, Killing Heidi, KLP, Megan Washington, Nick Cester (Jet), Northeast Party House, The Preatures, Tkay Maidza and Touch Sensitive.
All proceeds from the benefit show will go towards peak body, Equality Campaign, and LGBT charity groups.
When I was asked to do this show I jumped at the chance to say Yes because I believe in marriage equality,” Barnes said.
“Love is love and if you are lucky enough to find the one you love, why should anyone be able to tell you – you can’t get married. It’s a basic human right.”
Music legend Elton John was approached to perform at the festival, but had to decline due to touring commitments. However, he has released a video encouraging Australians to attend and vote Yes in the government’s same-sex marriage survey.
“When you vote yes, it is a vote for freedom,” he said. “Every individual needs to have their personal freedom and to live their lives as they see fit.
“We’re not asking for anything that is not given freely to the majority of society. So let’s not be an exception here in Australia. Please say Yes when your chance to vote arrives. This is, after all, the 21st century.”
Festival co-organiser Jonathan Seidler said while it would have been great to have Elton John on the line-up, he expected people like Aussie rock legend Jimmy Barnes to pull massive crowds.
“I think it’s better to have Australians (perform),” he said. “It’s an Australian issue. Your Jimmys and your Heidis are cross-demographic. Everybody sits in their own social media bubbles and assumes it (marriage equality) is a done deal.
“But we’re not preaching to the converted.”
The concert will be live-streamed on YouTube to catch a global audience.
Tickets for YesFest went on sale from midday today. For more details, check out the festival website.
