Scots musicians unite for Save the Children show

A CHARITY gig involving some of the best-known names in Scottish music will take place tonight to raise money for children affected by the Syrian refugee crisis.

Stuart Murdoch, centre, of Belle and Sebastian, has organised the charity concert in Glasgow. Picture: Robert Perry

The fundraiser at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium will be headlined by indiepop legends Belle and Sebastian and will also see performances from Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill of Simple Minds, Mercury Prize-winning trio Young Fathers and post-rock titans Mogwai.

Franz Ferdinand and comedian Josie Long will also perform.

Proceeds will go to Save the Children’s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal.

Belle and Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch was inspired to organise the benefit show by his wife Marisa, who asked him if he could do anything to help refugees following the widely-reported death of three-year Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi who was found washed up on a Turkish beach.

Neil Mathers, head of Save the Children in Scotland, said: “From the moment that Stuart Murdoch called us and said that Belle and Sebastian wanted to help, we knew it was going to be a fantastic gig, but we’re blown away by this line up.

“The ticket price will go straight to our child refugee crisis appeal, so we can help some of the most desperate families in the world flee war and start a better life for their children.

A crisis like this truly demonstrates just how amazing people are and we’ve been overwhelmed by the compassion that Scots have shown.

“We’re so excited about this amazing gig, it’s going to be a fantastic night.”

Alloysious Massaquoi of Young Fathers said: “We are all migrants, and we can all be locals within an ever changing and globally connected landscape. Strip away a person’s wealth to see how humble one can be, strip away a person’s clothes to bare a naked fragile body.

“We seem to forget that we all came from a single continent called Africa, from a common ancestor and spread across the world for different reasons over thousands of years. Strip away your own privilege and circumstance... what is left? A person.”

Simple Minds’ Jim Kerr said: “We are immensely looking forward to joining some of Scotland’s great music talent at the Clyde Auditorium. No doubt it will be an evening full of memorable performances - with the added benefit that money raised will aid Save The Children’s Child Refugee Crisis Appeal.”

Belle and Sebastian previously contributed a track, The Monkeys are Breaking Out the Zoo, to a 2006 charity album which raised money for Save the Children’s Rewrite the Future campaign.

Tickets for the show are still available online or by calling 0844 999 990.