Aussie artists Megan Washington, Josh Pyke, Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, Glenn Richards of Augie March, and Julian Hamilton of The Presets are set to perform at Music For Mercy, a Sydney concert and candlelit vigil conceived by Australian artist Ben Quilty, set to take place on Thursday, 29th January in support of convicted Bali Nine drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
Part of the ongoing Mercy Campaign for leniency on behalf of Chan and Sukumaran, Music For Mercy will also see sets from The Church’s Steve Kilbey, Noiseworks’ Steve Balbi, Jenny Morris, Paulie Stewart of Painters and Dockers, Justine Clarke, Emma Louise, The Tambourine Girls and more.
Music For Mercy has been described by Quilty as “a peaceful show of compassion for Myuran and Andrew and their families”, on the concert’s Facebook event page. “Both boys made terrible and stupid mistakes ten years ago but I can assure you they are now rehabilitated and remorseful young men,” Quilty has said.
In April 2005, the group now known as the Bali Nine attempted to smuggle heroin out of Bali, but were caught by Indonesian police. Both men could still face the firing squad, with Chan’s pleas for clemency being refused by Indonesian president Joko Widodo last week.
English grindcore band Napalm Death have issued a plea to Joko Widodo (who is known to wear Napalm Death t-shirts), asking for clemency to be granted to Sukumaran and Chan.
Frontman Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway posted on the group’s Facebook page, “As a follower of our band Napalm Death, you would appreciate that our lyrics and ethos challenge the unbroken cycle of violence in the world, whether it comes from a state or as an individual. If these things are not challenged and ultimately changed, I believe we will never truly move forward as humankind.” View Greenway’s post in full, below.
Aussie band The Temper Trap have also thrown their support behind Sukmaran and Chan, with vocalist Dougy Mandagi featuring in Mercy Campaign’s promotional video (below), having shared his thoughts on the Temper Trap Facebook page over the last few weeks.
The venue for Music For Mercy is expected to be announced today, Tuesday, 27th January. The concert is an alcohol-free event for all ages. For more information, visit the Music For Mercy Facebook event page. A Mercy Campaign petition calling for leniency can be read and signed at the Mercy Campaign website.
Watch: “I Stand for Mercy” for The Mercy Campaign for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran
