Bernard Fanning, You Am I & More Set To Play 'Concert For Kate' Benefit

A benefit for Kate Stewart, friend and ex-manager to You Am I, is being put on to support Stewart after she suffered a major stroke late last year.

Stewart, who was also part of the team that got ‘Big Day Out’ and ‘Splendour In The Grass’ off the ground, has been left with huge impairments both physically and financially so You Am I have called on a bunch of friends to help raise money to support her.

Besides You Am I, the lineup also features Bernard Fanning, Phil Jamieson, Paul Dempsey and more.

You Am I also released a long statement about what Stewart means to them.

“Before we had half a clue, our band approached Kate Stewart for some advice on how to get shows, how to make a record, how to be a group,” the statement reads. “We asked her because she had a reputation for being a straight talker, no bluster, and someone who thrived on getting stuff done. She was also a great late-night drinker, raconteur, confidante. To our enormous surprise she suggested management. Rapidly we got an education in ethics and morality in a community where the edges on such behaviour were often blurred. As Rusty has written- she was our centre of moral authority. And our friend. When she gave us our ten bucks a day on tour for “sustenance” it came with sage advice on how to stretch it. When that per diem bulged to twenty, the nights after a show just got longer. As offers and shows came our way, and no doubt our sense of our worth bloated, Kate persistently reminded us in no uncertain terms that we were of no more worth than the gals and guys lugging gear, rolling leads, stamping the wrists, no matter how much bloody velvet we were wearing. We shared floors, vans, longnecks, fights and a thousand sweaty hugs. She was the first person to give us a chance, and the last person out of the venue for hundreds, maybe thousands of shows. Though we parted ways a while back we remain dear friends, as again, she has given us chances when we maybe didn’t deserve them. Now she needs some help (she never asked for it. Never would.) So, we are putting on a show with some wags who also wanna give a little something back to the woman who gave us everything. More to be announced but dig in to this with us lot. And to the folks who will suggest calling the night “Something For Kate” well, yes, it is. But we believe there is a music group of the same nomenclature. And we don’t wanna ruffle their plumage.”

If you want to donate to Kate Stewart, you can do so through Support Act.

Check out all the details for ‘Concert For Kate’ below.

UPDATE 07/03/19: Due to overwhelming demand the Concert For Kate benefit show has been moved to a larger venue and will now be at the Enmore Theatre on Friday March 15th. Original tickets for The Factory will be automatically valid for the new show.

Today as part of the fundraiser, Live and eBay auction items have also been released. Items include You Am I ARIA Gold and Platinum records, plus contributions from Powderfinger, Grinspoon, Tony Mott, Tim Rogers, Midnight Oil, Silverchair, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, and items from Kate Stewart’s own personal collection.

Some items will be auctioned live from the stage during the Concert For Kate show at the Enmore Theatre. Those unable to make the show can email a bid to admin@youami.com.au prior to 7pm on Friday March 15th.

The eBay auction here starts Thursday 5pm March 7th 5PM and ends Sunday March 17th. All proceeds from these auctions go to the Kate Stewart Appeal.