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Australia hosts bush fire benefit Australia hosts bush fire benefit
(40 minutes later)
Australia's biggest music stars are being joined by international groups for a day of music to raise funds for victims of recent natural disasters. Australia's biggest music stars have been joined by international groups for a day of music to raise funds for victims of recent natural disasters.
Record crowds are expected for concerts in Melbourne and Sydney organised after deadly bush fires and flooding. Thousands attended the Sound Relief concerts in Sydney and Melbourne, despite stormy and wet weather.
Coldplay, Barry Gibb and Midnight Oil frontman turned Environment Minister Peter Garrett are all performing. Coldplay opened the event in Sydney, with Kings of Leon and Australian stars Midnight Oil also set to perform.
Recent weeks saw the worst fires in Australian history kill 210 people in the south, while floods hit the north.Recent weeks saw the worst fires in Australian history kill 210 people in the south, while floods hit the north.
Some 80,000 fans were expected at the Melbourne gig. Some of the acts on the bill include Jack Johnson, Gabriella Cilmi and Wolfmother, with Kylie Minogue as MC. A sold-out crowd of 80,000 fans attended the Melbourne gig, where acts on the bill include Jack Johnson, Gabriella Cilmi and Wolfmother, with Kylie Minogue as MC.
Coldplay is playing in Sydney, where 40,000 people were expected. 'Extraordinary situation'
Sound Relief, as the concerts are called, is also bringing back a number of retired Australasian bands such as Icehouse, Hunters and Collectors and Split Enz. A number of retired Australasian bands, such as Icehouse, Hunters and Collectors and Split Enz have reformed, for the event.
Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett left parliament behind to rock with his old band Midnight Oil.
"The music industry coming together to put its hands in its pockets and get itself out on the stage.. is a very, very special day for us," Garrett, 55, told a news conference.
"Naturally, I consulted with my colleagues because I've got responsibilities but I think everybody recognises that it was just a really extraordinary situation."
Midnight Oil shot to fame in the 1980s with politically-charged songs calling attention to the plight of Australia's aboriginal peoples but broke up in 2002 after frontman Garrett announced he was leaving to go into politics.Midnight Oil shot to fame in the 1980s with politically-charged songs calling attention to the plight of Australia's aboriginal peoples but broke up in 2002 after frontman Garrett announced he was leaving to go into politics.
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Aerial footage of devastated Australian communitiesAerial footage of devastated Australian communities