Bob Geldof announced for star-studded Ukraine charity show in Manchester

Bob Geldof has been announced as one of the performers for the 'Songs of Freedom' charity concert at Manchester's Co-Op Live on February 3, 2027. The gig will be raising money to support women, children, and vulnerable communities living in Ukraine.

Other artists that have been announced for the show include Madness, The Lathums, Nick Lowe,  Midge Ure, Songs for Ukraine Choir, The Doobie Brothers, Peter Hook & The Light, Chrissie Hynde, and the London Metropolitan Orchestra.

There will also be virtual appearances by those who could not attend in person, such as Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, and Sean Penn.

 

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The event will raise funds for UNITED24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People of the Future) and Masha Foundation. These charities work to provide humanitarian relief in Ukraine, such as trauma assistance, education, healthcare, and music schools.

Ahead of the concert, organisers will also release a special recording of the Ukrainian song 'Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)'. The single will feature the Songs for Ukraine Choir, the Royal Opera Choir and the London Metropolitan Orchestra, all proceeds will go towards humanitarian aid.

Bob Geldof will be awarded the 2026 Sutherland Leadership Award at the Business & Finance Awards, taking place at the Convention Centre Dublin on December 10.

President and Publisher of Business and Finance, Ian Hyland, shared an insight into the award in a statement.

"Throughout his life, Bob has demonstrated an extraordinary ability to turn conviction into action, using his voice and influence to mobilise people, governments and institutions around some of the defining humanitarian challenges of our time."

The Dublin-born musician rose to prominence as lead singer of rock band, The Boomtown Rats. The group are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, with their final tour date taking place on December 19 at Winterval, Waterford.

He co-founded Band Aid alongside Midge Ure in 1984, and released the single 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', in aid of famine relief in Ethiopia. The following year he organised Live Aid, a charity concert that ran simultaneously in London and Philadelphia. The event featured Queen, Madonna, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, and U2. Geldof was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2006 and 2008.