Bob Geldof and Madness Join Lineup for Ukraine Charity Concert

Bob Geldof and Madness will join a host of well-known artists for an upcoming benefit concert raising funds for Ukraine.

The Songs of Freedom show will also feature performances from Chrissie Hynde and Peter Hook and the Light, alongside special video appearances by Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand, Sean Penn and Huey Lewis & The News.

Taking place at Manchester's Co-Op Live Arena on 3 February, the charity event will also be broadcast around the world.

Other names confirmed for the line-up include The Doobie Brothers, Midge Ure, Nick Lowe, Inspiral Carpets and Squeeze's Chris Difford, with more performers expected to be announced.

The Boomtown Rats frontman and Ure famously came together to organise Live Aid in 1985. They also released the festive charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? in December 1984 to raise money for people affected by the famine in Ethiopia.

Funds raised through the upcoming concert will support United24, Voices of Children, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk Charitable Foundation (People Of The Future) and Masha Foundation. The organisations will use the proceeds to help women, children and vulnerable communities affected by the war in Ukraine.

A new recording of the Ukrainian song Shchedryk (Carol Of The Bells) will also be released ahead of the concert. The track features the Songs For Ukraine Choir, the Royal Opera Choir and the London Metropolitan Orchestra, with a nationwide campaign aiming to take it to Number One on the UK Singles Chart. All proceeds from the release will go towards the charity appeal.

Tickets for Songs of Freedom will be available from Monday 16 November, following a pre-sale on Thursday 12 November.