(Red), as you may be aware, is the largest private-sector contributor to The Global Fund, dedicated to eradicating AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in Africa. (Red)Nights is the organization's star-studded series of fund-raising concerts, such as Brandi Carlile's show tomorrow night at Chicago's House of Blues.
(Red)Nights' October 4 lineup at Carnegie Hall, though, is on a different scale entirely. Curated by the adventurous producer Hal Willner, who specializes in unexpected matchups of musicians and material, the concert features an assortment of familiar big names – including Bono, Gavin Friday, Laurie Anderson, and Rufus Wainwright – along with cult faves such as former Mothers of Invention Flo & Eddie, No Wave icon Lydia Lunch, country singer Maria McKee, former Nirvana wife Courtney Love, jazz guitar great Bill Frisell, and the lovely Scarlett Johansson. The full lineup and press release after the jump.
A COUP FOR (RED)NIGHTS SERIES WITH ADDITION OF SPECIAL CARNEGIE HALL SHOW ON OCTOBER 4
“HAL WILLNER PRESENTS: AN EVENING WITH GAVIN FRIDAY AND FRIENDS”
FEATURING LAURIE ANDERSON, ANTONY, ELIZABETH ASHLEY, BONO, ADAM CLAYTON, ANDREA CORR, THE EDGE, FLO & EDDIE, JOEL GREY, BILL FRISELL, GUGGI, SCARLETT JOHANSSON, COURTNEY LOVE, LYDIA LUNCH, PATRICK MCCABE, MARIA MCKEE, SHANE MACGOWAN, ERIC MINGUS, LARRY MULLEN, JR., JG THIRLWELL, MARTHA WAINWRIGHT, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, CHLOE WEBB, PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
On October 4 at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall, (RED) unites a world-class line up of artists for a special (RED)NIGHTS concert “Hal Willner Presents: An Evening with Gavin Friday and Friends.” The star-studded evening will feature Laurie Anderson, Antony, Elizabeth Ashley, Bono, Adam Clayton, Andrea Corr, The Edge, Flo & Eddie, Joel Grey, Bill Frisell, Guggi, Scarlett Johansson, Courtney Love, Lydia Lunch, Patrick McCabe, Maria McKee, Shane MacGowan, Eric Mingus, Larry Mullen, Jr., JG Thirlwell, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, Chloe Webb, plus special guests.
Tickets for the event are on sale now via CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org and the box office. As is the case with every (RED)NIGHTS show, a portion of the proceeds from the concert will go directly to the Global Fund (theglobalfund.org). For more information, please visit www.joinred.com/rednights or www.gavinfriday.com.
Longtime friends and professional collaborators, Willner and Friday came together to bring the concert to life and raise awareness of (RED)™’s mission. Friday, a childhood friend of Bono, is an Irish singer, composer and painter and founding member of the gothic rock group The Virgin Prunes. Willner has produced albums for Marianne Faithfull, Lou Reed, William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, yet is perhaps best known for assembling tribute albums and live events saluting Leonard Cohen, Thelonius Monk, Tim Buckley, Edgar Allen Poe and Marquis de Sade.
Willner said, “This unique evening is a celebration of Gavin and a gathering of friends and amazing musicians. We’re all proud to partner with (RED) to help fight AIDS in Africa.” “It’s an honor to be a part of this (RED)NIGHT because I know the money generated will go directly to people who need it,” added Friday.
“We’re so grateful to this incredible line up of artists who have joined forces with (RED) for one very special night at Carnegie Hall,” said Susan Smith Ellis, CEO of (RED). “This concert, and the (RED)NIGHTS series of concerts across the U.S. is an exciting way to engage fans and the music community in (RED)'s mission to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.”
The evening at Carnegie Hall is yet another impressive addition to the (RED)NIGHTS series. Thus far, (RED)NIGHTS artists Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Gomez, Santigold, O.A.R., Lisa Hannigan, The Veronicas, Matisyahu and K’Naan have each turned one of their concerts (RED) to bring the (RED) experience to life in a new way. Additionally, (RED) recently announced a new set of fall dates for (RED)NIGHTS, which will feature concerts by Built to Spill, Thievery Corporation, Brandi Carlile, Ingrid Michaelson, Joshua Radin and Sondre Lerche at venues such as The Fillmore in San Francisco, The Paradise in Boston and the House of Blues in Chicago.
At each (RED)NIGHTS concert, the participating artists aim to inspire fans to join (RED)’s mission to eliminate AIDS in Africa by pausing to highlight the many ways to get involved and encouraging those in the audience to share the message and experience with others. Ultimately, it is the goal of (RED)NIGHTS to build a community—of artists, concertgoers and music fans everywhere—that is passionate about helping to fight AIDS in Africa.
(RED) presents the (RED)NIGHTS concert series at select Live Nation clubs and theaters across the country. (RED) and Live Nation are collaborating to link acclaimed artists with their fans to join the fight against AIDS in Africa. Information about the scheduled (RED)NIGHTS concerts can be found at http://www.livenation.com and http://www.joinred.com/rednights
About (RED)TM and (PRODUCT) RED™
(RED)'s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund, to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT)RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express (U.K. only), Apple, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Hallmark, Dell, Windows and Starbucks. Since its launch in the spring of 2006, more than $130 million has been generated by (RED) for the Global Fund. (RED) money is at work in Swaziland, Rwanda, Ghana and Lesotho. For more information, visit JOINRED.COM.
About The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Since its creation in 2002, the Global Fund has become the dominant financer of programs to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with approved funding of US $15 billion for programs in 140 countries. The Global Fund supports programs based on agreed performance targets and disburses money in response to proven results. At the end of 2008, programs supported by the Global Fund have averted more than 3.5 million deaths by providing AIDS treatment for 2 million people, TB treatment for 4.6 million people, and by the distribution of 70 million insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria worldwide. For more information visit http://www.theglobalfund.org. (RED)TM is the Global Fund's largest private sector contributor. For more information, please visit http://www.theglobalfund.org.