An 'Ambassador of Conscience Award' concert will take place in Dublin in June.
Bono is set to present the Amnesty International 'Ambassador of Conscience Award' to the leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, at a special concert in Dublin on June 18.
Irish and international artists from the worlds of music, drama, cinema and dance, will perform and give readings at what has been dubbed the ‘Electric Burma’ concert, which will be held for the Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The concert will take place at 4.45pm on Monday, June 18, in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin.
The centrepiece of ‘Electric Burma’ will be the presentation of Amnesty International’s prestigious ‘Ambassador of Conscience Award' to Aung San Suu Kyi. The presentation will be made by Bono and was originally announced from the stage during a concert by long-term campaigners U2 when they played at Croke Park in July 2009.
‘Electric Burma’ will be a celebration of music, dance, and spoken work, and will include contributions by Damien Rice, Angelique Kidjo, Vanessa Redgrave, Bob Geldof, Riverdance, Jack Gleeson and others. Artistic direction and set design has been created by celebrated Catalan designer and director Lluís Danés.
Announcements on further artists and details of the concert will be made on [link]www.electricburma.com[/link]. Tickets for Electric Burma will go on general sale this Friday, June 2, at 9am via [link]www.ticketmaster.ie[/link], priced from €25 each.
‘Electric Burma’ is being organised and promoted by Bill Shipsey, founder of Art for Amnesty – Amnesty International’s global artist engagement programme. Aung San Suu Kyi is travelling to Ireland and attending the ‘Electric Burma’ concert directly from Oslo where she will deliver the acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize that she was awarded in 1991, having been under house arrest or in prison for 15 of the last 24 years. This will be her first trip to Europe since 1988.
Speaking at a press conference to give details of ‘Electric Burma’ this morning, Bill Shipsey commented, “Why Ireland for a concert for Aung San Suu Kyi? Samuel Beckett was once asked why we produced so many musicians and writers and dancers. He said that 'when you live on the last ditch (of Europe) all you can do is sing.’
“’Electric Burma’ will give a charge to the people of Burma. But the electricity for this concert will be provided by the star who will be seated in the stalls for most of the show. Everybody else who performs, no matter how celebrated or gifted, is a support act. Walk on Aung San Suu Kyi to the Dublin stage. A free woman of Dublin since 2001, and now a free woman of the world.”
The Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, Colm O’Gorman, commented, “Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit is a truly momentous occasion for everyone in Ireland, and throughout the world, who campaigned tirelessly for her release for more than 20 years. On behalf of Amnesty International members across the globe, we are honoured to welcome her to Ireland for an event that will celebrate her freedom and her extraordinary life’s work to secure freedom and human rights for her people.”
U2’s Bono commented, “It's so rare to see grace trump military might, and when it happens we should make the most joyful noise we can. Aung San Suu Kyi’s grace and courage has tilted a wobbly world further in the direction of democracy. We all feel we know her, but it will be such a thrill to meet her in person. How honoured we are that she should consider Ireland for her first real trip from home.”
Bob Geldof commented, “To be allowed to honour this woman is an honour in itself. The heroine of dignity, integrity, courage and steely moral vigour lost her freedom and her family in order to gain a nation. Ireland is enobled by her visit.”
Amnesty International will host a public celebration outside the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre on the evening of the concert at which it is expected that Aung San Suu Kyi will make a brief address to the assembled crowd. Keep an eye on hotpress.com for further details.
The Defiant Ones traces the careers of two of music's most innovative producers and will air on HBO next year.
Read More Even Bono can't get tickets to Hamilton.
Read More
"The train is leaving the station, be on it or be under it."
Read More
U2's frontman didn't mince words when discussing the next potential president of the United States
Read More
The U2 frontman urged the Minister for the Environment to move ahead with the plans
Read More Bono urged US Congress to deploy comedy to fight violent extremists
Read More
Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme that transforms the lives of young people through access to high quality musicical education.
Read More Win a bike ride with Bono from U2 or a makeup lesson with Kim Kardashian
Read More Star-studded line-up takes to the airwaves for United Nations initiative
Read More Bono spoke with the Canadian PM and parliament yesterday to discuss the issue of foreign aid.
Read More Commencement address from 2004 appears on exam this morning
Read More U2 frontman lends words of wisdom to happy couple
Read More In the midst of a fascinating A to Z on the year just gone by, the U2 singer lets fly at online bullies – of the anonymous variety...
Read More The U2 lead singer has expressed concerns about his ability to finger a six-string, following the arm breakage he suffered in New York last year
Read More Give it your best Bono and support a great cause in the process
Read More The U2 singer's humerus – the largest bone in the arm – was driven through his skin following his bicycle accident in New York.
Read More
While aware of the transitional difficulties involved, Bono told The Music Summit that streaming services like Spotify should be embraced, not feared.
Read More Speaking at the Web Summit today, the U2 frontman says he's pleased the band released Songs of Innocence as they did.
Read More U2 and their manager Paul McGuinness, Horslips’ Jim Lockhart and Barry Devlin and Paul Brady were among the musical contingent paying their respects this morning to Seamus Heaney at his funeral mass in Donnybrook.
Read More The ceremony will take place in Paris tonight.
Read More
Watch Myles O'Reilly's beautifully shot 'Busking For Simon 2012' clip...
Read More During a festive hometown break Bono revealed the working title for the new U2 album...
Read More The U2 frontman is among a long list of contributors to feature in a new documentary...
Read More Hear new material from Bono and The Edge before it hits the shelves...
Read More Band were joined by Muse drummer and bizarrely- footballer Ronaldo!
Read More As a songwriter and frontman with Thin Lizzy, Philip Lynott cast a long shadow over the scene in Ireland in the 1970s. In a special interview, Bono recalls what made him special...
Read More The first music promo was premiered at The Music Show 2010, now see the trailer
Read More
Bono is one of several top international acts who will perform at the Hope For Haiti TV fundraising show on January 22.
Read More Belfast has been awash with U2 lookalikes this week as work begins to transform former HP scribe Neil McCormick’s I Was Bono’s Doppelganger memoir into a big screen blockbuster.
Read More He's also hopeful that U2 will have some new material out this year.
Read More The first issue of (RED)Wire digital music magazine will be available for download on December 1 to coincide with World AIDS Day. It's the latest initiative from (RED), the HIV/AIDS organisation whose prime movers include Bono.
Read More (RED), a charity started by U2 frontman Bono, has announced a new initiative to help to raise money for people living with AIDS in Africa, through the medium of music.
Read More The tabloids were aflutter earlier this week at the idea that Bono might be working on the forthcoming Spice Girls record. Unsurprisingly, it's not at all true...
Read More Celebrated Japanese architect Tadao Ando was welcomed to Dublin by Bono today.
Read More Bono's cinematic homage to The Beatles Across The Universe is due to hit America later this month
Read More U2 frontman Bono has landed a role in a new musical film inspired by the Beatles.
Read More The popping of corks was extra loud in the Hewson household this New Year as Bono received an honorary knighthood from the Queen.
Read More Bono is one of a gaggle – or should that be whoop? – of stars appearing in a video for the new Johnny Cash single, ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’.
Read More Bono used Friday October 13’s Oprah Winfrey Show to launch the new iPod nano RED.
Read More As revealed earlier in the year, Bono, Andrea Corr and Gavin Friday are among the artists contributing to the CD Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys.
Read More Political activist and sometime frontman of U2 has taken a new job: he's the editor of the UK Independent, out today.
Read More The U2 frontman will be editor for a day of a UK newspaper to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa.
Read More The U2 frontman will be editor for a day of a UK newspaper to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa. Is the pen really that mighty?
Read More Having previously sung with Frank Sinatra, Bono is helping to celebrate the 80th birthday of that other Italian-American great, Tony Bennett.
Read More He may have missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize, but Bono received due recognition for his humanitarian efforts yesterday when he was named alongside Bill and Melinda Gates as one of Time magzine’s People of the Year.
Read More The bookies got it wrong with 7-1 joint favourites Bono and Bob Geldof pipped to the Nobel Peace Prize by Mohamed ElBaredi, an Egyptian who works with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Read More
A question mark continues to hang over Bono's motivations for associating with sundry right-wing politicians. Plus: why there has to be an alternative to the dogmatic positions adopted by the Provos and the Indo on the Northern issue.
Read More Bono newest fashion initiative is based on eco-friendly production in developing countries
Read More Bono, Colin Powell and Pope John Paul II are among the nominees for this year's Nobel Peace Prize
Read More What does it mean when you sup with Mr.Man? These and other intriguing questions are yours to ponder.
Read More Has the world been taken over by the FCC? Bono and Hot Press are the latest to be condemned for using naughty 'f' and 'b' words
Read More Bono has been invited to the annual awards dinner of the King Centre - the foundation set up in honour of Martin Luther King
Read More Bono, Anastacia, Ms Dynamite and Beyoncé are among the artists performing in the 46664 Nelson Mandela SOS concert in November
Read More Bono gets busy with Zucchero and announces the winnng design of the new U2 studios
Read More U2 star and opera legend team up to raise money for the Iraqi people
Read More The U2 producer and collaborator enlists the vocal stylings of Emmylou Harris and Bono for forthcoming solo album
Read More Bono and Gavin Friday co-pen 'Time Enough For Tears' for the new Jim Sheridan movie
Read MoreFor information including benefits, key facts, figures and rates for advertising with Hot Press, click below
Advertise 
