January 2005

We went to the Tsunami Concert held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.  There was a whole range of performers who gave their services for free and all the profits went to the Asian Tsunami victims.  We travelled up on the Friday evening, visited Cardiff castle in the morning and then made our way to the concert in the afternoon.  the concert lasted about 8 hours and we finally left the venue at about 11 pm.  The centre of Cardiff had been closed to vehicles (they do it when ever there is a big event on)  and we had to walk across the city centre in the snow to catch the bus we needed.  I  didn't get any good pioctures at all -  but here are the best ones of cardiff castle, an external view of the stadium (behind the repairs on the castle)  and one shot from inside :)

Review stolen from the BBC website (you can link to the review, if its still there, by clicking here)

Stadium tsunami gig raises £1.25m

One of the biggest charity concerts since Live Aid 20 years ago has raised £1.25m for victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. More than 60,000 fans were at Cardiff Millennium Stadium. Millions more joined in on TV, radio and online. Eric Clapton, Manic Street Preachers, Keane and Charlotte Church were among those who performed in the marathon seven-hour concert.

Organisers said the "phenomenal" response helped beat their target. It brings the total raised for the tsunami victims by the British public to more than £200m.

Tsunami Relief Cardiff was put together by the stadium management in just three weeks, in the wake of Boxing Day tragedy in which more than 220,000 people died. Classical, rap, rock and pop performers including Snow Patrol, Embrace, Lemar and Aled Jones came forward to offer their performances for free. The crowd also rocked to Kelly Jones, of the Stereophonics, Feeder and Liberty X, while it was left to Eric Clapton and Jools Holland to end the gig. The audience was also played goodwill messages from politicians and celebrities including Tony Blair and Wales First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Prince Charles and Welsh rugby coach Mike Ruddock. Sharon Osbourne and Bono also sent video messages, while guests included the co-creator of Live Aid Midge Ure, who praised the work of the organisers.

Doors opened for the concert at 1400 GMT with classical singer Katherine Jenkins, from Neath, starting the show with Amazing Grace. The crowd joined in with her rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, waving LED torches that represented victims of the disaster. Among the acts to get the biggest cheers from the audience were Welsh rappers GLC, the words of their songs suitably changed for a TV audience. Rockers Keane and Snow Patrol were also given a great ovation along with Lemar and R&B vocalist Craig David. But the biggest ovation was reserved for the Manics, from nearby Blackwood. At the end many of the performers joined Jools Holland and Eric Clapton for Shake, Rattle and Roll as the final figure raised - £1,248,963, flashed across the giant screen.

Organiser Paul Sergeant, the stadium's general manager, said the evening had been "phenomenal". He said: "The crowd have left singing. Everything has gone - for the whole three weeks - so smoothly. "We have shown that this is Wales, we are capable of delivering . If the opportunity came round we would do something again."

The show was broadcast by different outlets of the BBC and shown in its entirety on S4C, as well as streamed on the web