Flaming Lips to perform in revival of historic human rights concert in New York next month
Tickets available via Ticketmaster
The alternative rock band The Flaming Lips and a host of other leading performers are to appear in a concert in New York next month which will see the return of Amnesty International’s famous Human Rights Concert series
The 5 February concert, taking place in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, will also include performances from Ms. Lauryn Hill, Cold War Kids, Imagine Dragons, Tegan and Sara, The Fray, Colbie Caillat and Cake, with other special guests set to be announced.
Twenty-five years after its initial concert series - which featured U2, Sting, Lou Reed and others - Amnesty is bringing back the concert to raise awareness about human rights to a new generation. The “Bringing Human Rights Home” concert will use technology to connect the music and message in real time from the stage of the Barclays Center to activists across the globe.
Between 1986 and 1998, Amnesty held 28 concerts around the world with over 1.25 million attendees. The most high-profile component of the concert series was the six-week, five-continent, 20-concert “Human Rights Now!” world tour in 1988 - headlined by Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Sting, Tracy Chapman and Youssou N’Dour. Those concerts helped triple Amnesty’s worldwide membership and mobilise a generation of human rights activists.
Amnesty International USA Executive Director Steven Hawkins said:
“We’re bringing back the concerts to show a new generation of activists how to stand up for justice at home and abroad - whether it is fighting for the right to voice dissent peacefully on social networks or in the streets, protecting the rights of women and girls, or standing in solidarity with individuals persecuted for who they are or what they believe.
Dan Reynolds, lead singer of Grammy-nominated rock band Imagine Dragons, said:
“Amnesty’s past concerts have featured some of the greatest artists of our generation and have been catalysts for real, measurable change. It’s an honour to perform as part of this event and continue the cause of championing human rights around the world.”
On social media, please follow #AmnestyConcert for live updates about the concert.