Elvis Costello, Sting, Kesha and more to play David Lynch Foundation's 'Meditate America' virtual benefit concert

The David Lynch Foundation has announced the line-up for its free virtual 'Meditate America' benefit concert, taking place this Thursday, December 3 – featuring performances from Sting, Angélique Kidjo, Graham Nash, Elvis Costello, Kesha, Jim James and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Among the hosts of the event are Katy Perry, Hugh Jackman, and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness.

The David Lynch Foundation's 'Meditate America' initiative is being launched next week with the aim of bringing "the evidence-based Transcendental Meditation technique to everyone in the country who is at-risk and vulnerable to stress and trauma, in the same way that approved medicines are available to people."

You're invited to our FREE gala featuring @RealHughJackman @katyperry @OfficialSting @TheGrahamNash @ElvisCostello @KeshaRose & more 12/3 to launch #MeditateAmerica teaching TM® across America. FREE tickets: https://t.co/fTr1qeKsoG #TranscendentalMeditation #TM #meditation pic.twitter.com/lrP93Imd1Z

— DavidLynchFoundation (@LynchFoundation) November 19, 2020

According to 'Meditate America' website, the "first phase of the initiative is to conduct large-scale, randomised controlled trials on the benefits of the technique for healing trauma; reducing high blood pressure and risk of heart disease and stroke; and reducing anxiety and depression."

"Outcomes from the trials will be used to qualify TM as a medical intervention covered by private and public insurance companies," they continue. "Once the technique has been approved for reimbursement, then anyone who suffers from stress and stress-related disorders will be able to learn TM at no cost to the individual. In this way, as many as 300 million people will be able to meditate, a development that will transform the health of the people and the entire nation."

The acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch began practising Transcendental Meditation in 1973, and set up the Foundation in 2005 – "to ensure that every child anywhere in the world who wanted to learn to meditate could do so."

'Meditate America' airs on December 3 at 7pm Eastern (midnight Irish time). Register for free tickets, and receive a recording of the event via email, here.