Top acts to play at Murrayfield poverty gig

Quoted from: http://news.scotsman.com

A STAR-STUDDED anti-poverty concert will go ahead at Murrayfield Stadium despite a wrangle over the cost of staging the event, the organisers insisted today. Sir Bob Geldof's Live Aid foundation today confirmed that the Capital will play host to a major event following an all-star concert at London's Hyde Park. Insiders said that will involve a concert at Murrayfield Stadium on Wednesday, July 6, to coincide with the start of the G8 Summit at Gleneagles. The concert had been thrown into doubt by problems with the cost of returfing the pitch. The Scottish Rugby Union is unable to bear the burden of the cost due to its ongoing financial plight. However, the SRU said today it was ready to make the stadium available to concert organisers, and it is understood a deal is close to being struck. Scottish bands including Travis are expected to appear at a three-hour show at Murrayfield. It is hoped that global megastars Robbie Williams and U2 frontman Bono will also line up on the Murrayfield stage. Live satellite links are also expected to be set up with the Pope and Nelson Mandela to broadcast messages of support to anti-poverty campaigners. The event is designed to re-inforce the message to G8 leaders from campaigners calling on them to cancel Third World debt. After weeks of speculation, Sir Bob and his Live Aid partner Midge Ure were today due to announce details of a spectacular Live 8 concert in London's Hyde Park. The concert will take place on July 2, the same day as the Make Poverty History March in Edinburgh. It will be shown live on BBC1. Among the major acts Sir Bob was expected to reveal are Sir Paul McCartney and U2, who are due to open the Hyde Park event with the Beatles classic Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Robbie Williams hopes to sing two hit records, while Sting, Annie Lennox, Oasis and The Who are also expected to perform. However, the Spice Girls today confirmed they had not been asked to perform at Hyde Park, despite offering to reunite for the occasion. There will be simultaneous events in France, Germany and Washington, where US rapper Eminem is due to play. The Live Aid foundation said Midge Ure would unveil full details of the Edinburgh concert next week. A spokesman for Sir Bob's Band Aid charity told the Evening News: "Midge Ure will reveal all the details next week." A source close to the organisers added: "Edinburgh is very important as it is the focus point for all the G8 demonstrations. The precise workings of the gig have yet to be finalised, but it is definitely going ahead." The SRU said it was involved in "positive dialogue" with the charitable Hunter Foundation about meeting the costs of replacing the Murrayfield turf.