Queen with Paul Rodgers are set to be one of the headlining acts at Nelson Mandela‘s 90th birthday concert, which takes place in London’s Hyde Park on June 27.
Other artists revealed to be performing at the 46664 Concert, named after the former President of South Africa’s prison number, include Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and Dame Shirley Bassey.
Popstars including former X Factor winner Leona Lewis, Sugababes and Jamelia will also play the birthday gig which will raise money for Mandela’s AIDs charity which also bears the name 46664.
Razorlight, Corrs‘ sisters Andrea and Sharon and Eddy Grant are also on the bill alogside South African artists who include the Soweto Gospel Choir, Sipho Mabuse and Johnny Clegg.
Mandela has told BBC News: “You all know that I am supposed to be retired. But my friends and the charitable organisations that bear my name want to use my 90th birthday year to raise funds to continue our work and so of course I want to help them.”
Invited guests to Mandela’s birthday concert are expected to include former US President Bill Clinton, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as celebrities like Will Smith, Robert De Niro and Oprah Winfrey.
This year’s concert also marks the 20th annivesary of the event held at Wembley Stadium in June 1988, which saw artists such as the Eurythmics, Simple Minds Dire Straits perform for his 70th birthday and also call for his release from prison.
Tickets for the Hyde Park bash go onsale this Friday (May 9) at 9am.
Though fans who register by 6pm today can buy special presale tickets from tomorrow (May 7).
More information is available from the official website here: 46664.com
Pic credit: PA Photos