Live Earth London

Can Concerts Fit into City's Hectic Schedule?

Following hot on the heels of the admission that Wembley might not even be ready for this year’s FA Cup Final, it looks like a further lack of foresight might put paid to another landmark London event this summer.

Thankfully this planning shambles isn’t anything to do with Londoners. Strangely, the blame lies at the door of former US presidential hopeful, Al Gore, now the head of climate change coalition Save Our Selves. Announced amongst great fanfare at a celeb-studded press conference last week, it turns out that the Live Earth concerts – set to imitate Live 8 with a worldwide set of simultaneous gigs, this time to raise awareness of global warming – don’t even have a licence or venue confirmed in London yet. In fact, the Department for Culture Media and Sport and the London authorities haven’t heard a thing about it.

What’s more, they have pencilled in the concert on the same weekend that the Tour de France hosts its prologue time trial in London for the first ever time. With the race route skirting the edge of Hyde Park – the natural venue for this huge concert – and the city already expecting two million plus cycling enthusiasts, this could mean trouble for Al.

Now, I am sure that, for such a cause celebre, the powers-that-be will be bending over backwards to accommodate Live Earth. No doubt our good mayor will be putting the full force of his influence behind it. Remember - last year the Prince’s Trust called off their annual fundraiser in Hyde Park to make way for Live 8. But somehow I don’t think Le Tour will be so generous.

Of course, there are a host of other venues in London capable of hosting the concert – Clapham Common, Victoria Park, the Millennium Dome even. Plus, the cycling buzz is very fitting - it might encourage a few more people to hop on their bikes. What could be more inspirational than hundreds of steroid-enhanced superhumnans, boasting sub-40 bpm resting pulse rates, speeding past, astride gleaming racers with funny handlebars? Hopefully Live Earth will find itself a home in London alongside the world’s greatest cycle race.

As well as raising awareness of climate change, with any luck it might spur Londoners on to doing their own little bit. Live Earth needs to set an example. So listen Al, let’s have sustainable snacks, not Amazon-razing burgers; recyclable cups and plates, not tons of landfill-destined litter; and how about a solar powered stage? Oh, and tell the stars to make their way here by public transport, not on board Lear jets.

Last of all, I want to implore the organisers to consider a more ‘sustainable’ line-up. The bands announced so far are Keane, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and Duran Duran. So, that’s three times dreary indie, and one lot of 80s has-beens (you can’t fault their recycling policy). Compared to the all-encompassing blend of past-masters, fresh talent and crowd-pleasers that wowed the crowds at Live 8, it’s nothing short of mediocre. The only blessing is that Bono hasn’t volunteered himself as curator. For Live Earth to be a success, everyone must be talking about it, and that means an inclusive collection of fantastic bands that gets everyone involved. Could do better.

Second-Hand Sotheby’s

An oil painting scooped up for a fiver from a Twickenham Charity Shop could be a Picasso original. The artwork – spotted in the Relief for Romania shop on York Road – boasts a “Picasso” signature and, if proved to be genuine, could be worth anything up to £100,000.

Mined the Door

A 60-year-old, unexploded World War II bomb, used to prop open the door of a garden shed, has been removed from a house in New Malden. Bomb disposal experts were called to the house in south London following concerns expressed by the owner’s neighbour.

Muse-ic in the Square

Staunch Muse fans are being amassed to take part in a group summer sing-along in Trafalgar Square to herald the band’s two Wembley Stadium gigs on 16th and 17th June 2007. The stage is set for the 15th June with three hours of singing planned from 6pm. Fans can register to take part via the Muse fan site.

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