Per Gessle performed at the fundraising concert for Ukraine

Per Gessle performed at the fundraising concert in solidarity with Ukraine at Avicii Arena, Stockholm tonight. The almost 3-hour-long Hela Sverige skramlar show started at 20:00 CET and could be watched live not only on spot, but thanks to the organizers, also on SVT and other online channels (TV4 Play, Aftonbladet, Expressen). Swedish Radio also broadcast the event. The show will be available online for two months to watch on SVT, HERE.

The evening was filled with unique performances of some of Sweden’s foremost artists (Per Gessle, Eva Dahlgren, Peter Jöback, Wilmer X among many others) who showed up for free. Ticket revenues go in full to six different organizations in their work to curb the humanitarian crisis and promote human rights and democracy (International Red Cross, Proliska, UN Women Sweden, Fight for Right, Civil Rights Defenders and The Media Initiative for Human Rights).

As Per said earlier in a press release:

What is happening in Ukraine is undemocratic, indefensible and inconceivable. Difficult, if not impossible, to understand. You would think that no one in our modern times would have to experience such situation. I played a lot both in Russia and in Ukraine and the people of both countries are absolutely amazing. I have unforgettable memories from there that I saved deep in my heart. How could this happen?

Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA opened the event with a wonderful speech about peace and freedom.

Emma Molin and Fredrik Skavlan were the program leaders and after 4 performers they announced that 16 million SEK had been collected until then. While they talked, you could see Per and the band in the background, the crew changing the set for them. Mr. G entered the stage together with Helena Josefsson, Clarence Öfwerman, Magnus Börjeson and Ola Gustafsson to perform the 5th song at the gala. Listen To Your Heart sounded beautiful in that full arena!

All other artists also gave their best at the event. Even performers from Ukraine took the stage. Don’t miss Maria Sur singing Survivor (Destiny’s Child). So powerful!

Thank you, Per & Co. and all appearing on and providing support off stage, as well as everyone using Swish and any other ways to support Ukraine! At the end of the show it was announced that more than 60 million SEK was collected. [Update on 4th April: Contributions continued to come in on Sunday and the total collected is currently 75.805.615 SEK.]

Stills are from the gala video.

Per Gessle at the fundraising concert for Ukraine

A fundraising concert in solidarity with Ukraine is organized in Avicii Arena, Stockholm on Saturday 2nd April at 20:00 CET. The evening will be filled with unique performances of some of Sweden’s foremost artists who show up for free and the ticket proceeds go to six different organizations in their work to curb the humanitarian crisis and promote human rights and democracy. Ticket revenues go in full to International Red Cross, Proliska, UN Women Sweden, Fight for Right, Civil Rights Defenders and The Media Initiative for Human Rights.

Per Gessle is one of the participating artists, but also Eva Dahlgren, Peter Jöback, Wilmer X will be there, just to mention a few big names.

From the press release:

The country’s booking company gathers to arrange a fundraising concert with Sweden’s artist elite. This time in solidarity with Ukraine and with three major thematic themes in focus; humanitarian crisis, human rights and democracy.

Humanitarian Crisis:

More than one million people are on the run and many of them are children. At the same time, even more people are stuck in cities and towns in Ukraine and are affected or risk being affected by the war, either directly by military force or indirectly by famine and disease. We must help people in need.

Human Rights:

There are few things more incompatible with human value and life as war. We receive a lot of information about serious violations of human rights and violations of international law in the ongoing conflict, from indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas to denial of basic needs such as food, sleep and healthcare. We must fight for human rights.

Democracy:

Democracy in Ukraine is under direct attack, while we are seeing increased repression in Russia and Belarus. The small space left for free independent media and civil society in Russia has been brutally shut down. Since the outbreak of war, we have seen the great popular opposition to the war and how the brave voices that stand up to the Putin regime and call for peace are being systematically silenced. We must stand up for democracy and freedom in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

Per Gessle says in today’s press release:

What is happening in Ukraine is undemocratic, indefensible and inconceivable. Difficult, if not impossible, to understand. You would think that no one in our modern times would have to experience such situation. I played a lot both in Russia and in Ukraine and the people of both countries are absolutely amazing. I have unforgettable memories from there that I saved deep in my heart. How could this happen?

Tickets for the event are available HERE.

Thank you, Per, for supporting Ukraine!

The almost 3-hour-long concert can be watched worldwide live online HERE and it will be available at the link for a month.

World Tour 2011: Kiev, Ukraine – December 6 #79

Comment from Per Gessle

Thanx Kiev! Fantastic finale! Thanx for the flowers. Thanx for helping us out on Listen to your heart! The European Tour 2011 is over! We had a blast!!! This year has been the best Rox year ever!!!!! All of us thinks like that!!! And thanx Helena for making the sun shine at every show!!!! Good luck with everything!!! We miss you already!!!!! Now….. a quick shower then the Rox Jet back to Sthlm!!! Cheeeeeers, P & Co

Setlist

01. Dressed For Success
02. Sleeping In My Car
03. The Big L.
04. Wish I Could Fly
05. Only When I Dream
06. She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio)
07. Perfect Day
08. Things Will Never Be The Same
09. It Must Have Been Love
10. Opportunity Nox
11. 7twenty7
12. Fading Like A Flower (Every Time You Leave)
13. Crash! Boom! Bang!
14. How Do You Do!
15. Dangerous
Band presentation
16. Joyride (introduced with “Pidmanula”)

17. Watercolours In The Rain
18. Spending My Time
19. The Look

20. Listen To Your Heart
21. Church Of Your Heart

Miscs

The last 79th concert for the World Tour 2011 – at the same time the last one for Helena Josefsson as the backing singer.

Articles and photos

Ura-inform.com (Review and gallery)
Glavred.info (Review and gallery)

Roxette is in Kiev now (Don’t belive in what media writes)

Roxette arrived to Kiev, Ukraine yesterday on December 5, 2011. It’s the second time this year where the duo will play a concert in this city. It’s also the final World Tour 2011 gig before next step in New Zealand in February 2012.

Ukraine media reports about “extra-ordinary” requests from Roxette’s side, which turns out as standard and totally unsuprising to those who know what the tour live means. Additionally, journalists inform about group’s will to inspect the audience for video recorders or even cell phones – according to Potok.ua all sort of recording equipment is forbidden. And if people bring significant number of such devices, the concert may be even cancelled – yes, don’t belive in what papers write.

Update: It turned out that Roxette came in the rox jet on the concert day – I told ya, check your sources!