Beautiful South singers to hold Christmas charity concert

Beautiful South duo Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott are to hold a special Christmas concert this Saturday in Manchester to support a number of local charities and organisations.

Hope for Christmas II will take place at Manchester Academy, and the duo say the event is a way of saying thank you to people and organisations that inspire them by their commitment to change and fighting injustice.

The event will support organisations including two Greater Manchester foodbanks, Porch Boxes and Urban Outreach, with gig-goers encouraged to bring along non-perishable items with them on the evening. Co-operative Suma Wholefoods will also be working to distribute products across Greater Manchester with the GMB Union.

Other organisations being supported include Hatfield Brigade, a group of former coalminers from Hatfield Main Colliery in South Yorkshire who are campaigning to preserve the mine, mental health charity CALM and Article 26, which helps asylum seekers who are unable to work or claim benefits gain access to higher education.

Paul Heaton says the event is all about solidarity with those who cannot meet the rising cost of living. ‘I believe in the concept of solidarity, not charity. Those of us who care and want change will come together in solidarity and in defence of our values and community,’ he says.

Tickets for the gig, which also features singer-songwriter Mike Greaves, are on sale now.

Hope for Christmas II, Saturday December 12, 7pm, Manchester Academy. Tickets £27.50.