March 11th, 2010 / No Comments » / by giuliab
This morning I’ve arrived in the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey quite early to enjoy the last day from the start. The sun is shining, someone has put Lou Reed on to test the sound so here comes the title of the post (I haven’t slept enough last night so I’m short of ideas). The Oxfam stand is not set up yet, so I’ve got time for an update about Guadalajara’s concert.
The show was fantastic: my confetti shot was the best one since I’ve been using the ‘advanced’ machines. Butterflies came out smoothly until the last seconds of ‘Lovers In Japan’. I think I’ve mastered the art now! And the ola before ‘Don Quixote/Spanish Rain’ was the fastest I’ve seen up to now, so well done Guadalajara! However, today someone told me that the real home of the Mexican Wave is Monterrey’s Estadio Universitario, which is exactly where I am sitting right now, so we shall see tonight what El Volcàno has prepared for us…
Guadalajara has been a success for Oxfam too, twenty splendid volunteers have filled in sheets and sheets of sign-ups. I’ve done a rough count by flicking through the pile of paper for the evening, and I think they come to about one thousand. And that’s only for one of the four concerts in Mexico: it’s great!
So thanks to Oscar from Oxfam México who will also be here in Monterrey tonight and thanks to Jimena and Gabriela for all their work in Mexico City.
Keep signing up: if you’re in Monterrey tonight come and see us at the Oxfam stand just past the entrance, have a chat with one of the volunteers or click here www.oxfammexico.org We are putting all our efforts together for Vamos Al Grano campaign in support of local farmers. It’s a really important issue for Mexico and we need your help.
I’m really looking forward to this evening, there’s a feeling in the air that this is going to be a special night and it’s also the last chance to see this show ever. People are already queueing under the sunshine. I might go and see if there’s a bootleg market selling one of these…
Posted in: Latin America
Tags: Latin America, Mexico
March 9th, 2010 / No Comments » / by giuliab
The second show in Mexico City’s Foro Sol was the one-hundred-sixty-fifth show of Viva tour. Almost two years. Mexico is the last stop: four shows and then it will be over. Can you believe it?
For all of the Mexican shows Oxfam México will be campaigning on trade issues, The campaign is called “Vamos al grano”: if you’re coming to one of the shows, come and see us or look out for the Oxfam t-shirts walking around collecting sign-ups.
Did you know that 19 million people in Mexico haven’t got enough food? I didn’t.
Land is being bought off small farmers by big companies that produce biofuels. This means that local farmers can’t produce enough to support themselves and their families: that’s poverty.
Oxfam México is trying to cut the chain of production and support small farmers so that they can get better prices for their produce and improve their quality of life, which in most cases means simply giving them the basic right to food.
We’ve collected loads of sign ups and there’s still two shows to go in Mexico.
Have a look at this website www.oxfammexico.org for more information on how to sign up to the campaign.
And as you might have noticed, I’m a language geek, so Oxfam México’s tag-line is ‘Sumando rostros, uniendo voces’ which translates more or less like ‘Putting faces together, joining voices’. As true for Oxfam as it is for Coldplay: the two gigs in Mexico City saw a total of over 80,000 fans.
On the second day, I watched the band play Viva La Vida from the left side of the stage: it was AMAZING, it gave me a totally different perspective which is more similar to what the band feels: tens of thousands of people singing almost covering the music with their voices. I felt my knees were going weak. I wonder if Chris & co. still feel at least a quarter of the feeling I had after one hundred sixty-five shows, but I bet they do because the audience in Latin America is wonderful.
Posted in: Latin America
Tags: Latin America, Mexico
March 6th, 2010 / No Comments » / by giuliab
[Notepad-typed notes on the flight to Mexico City]
Two days since my last post from Brazil and we’ve already been to Colombia and gone.
So here we are, on a plane to Mexico right now and Mexico City is in some way what everyone in the crew has been looking forward to: we’re half-way through the tour and also this is the only place where Coldplay will play twice in the same venue so it means a bit more time for everyone.
Last night show in Bogotà was in the huge (how many times will I use this word again? Place your bet) Simon Bolivar park from where you could see the green mountains surrounding the capital. We’ve also been blessed with sunshine all day long, except some drizzle just when Coldplay went on stage. As usual.
It was the first time in Colombia for Coldplay. 32,000 people made it to the show despite a quite impressive public transport strike; they were all there, screaming their lungs out when Chris successfully attempted some local slang in Spanish!
Maybe some of them are still wearing one of the three wristbands that Oxfam volunteers have been giving out yesterday. Three wristbands - three messages, because Oxfam Colombia is full of energy and wants to involve as much young people as possible with initiatives that they can feel close to:
DIGNA: a collective movement for recovering dignity in the Colombian society affected by years of conflict. Leave your fingerprint here: www.vozdigna.org (English and Spanish version)
Violence against women: Colombian women have suffered and still suffer sexual abuse and violence in the conflict.
Mercados Campesinos (farmers’ markets): a great community project that helps small farmers to connect directly with Bogotà’s consumers. I’ve never been good with numbers, but apparently only by cutting the chain of intermediaries, local farmers can get up to 65% more profit and consumers get a price that is 30% cheaper than standard (thanks Paul for explaining!). It’s a win-win: less poverty in farmers communities and more food security for consumers.
Thanks Damaris and thanks to all of you lovely Colombian volunteers, you’ve been working so hard: I was panting most of the time since Bogotà is quite high-up. I had such a good time!
Besides my Oxfam-duty, I’ve also been upgraded to advanced confetti-shooter: I now sit all on my own below one of the delay towers and even have to use a radio. Amazing progress eh? Who knows what I could be doing next.
Posted in: Latin America
Tags: Colombia, Latin America
March 3rd, 2010 / 4 Comments » / by giuliab
Morumbi means ‘green hill’. Had it meant ‘Violet Hill’ it would have been perfection. Still, it’s a word of indigenous origin and I love the sound of it: doesn’t it make you think of a crescendo of noise? Appropriate for tonight indeed. It’s Chris’s birthday today and Will sang ‘Happy Birthday’ in Portuguese, reading out some scribbled notes on his guitar, and São Paulo’s people joined in. Feliz aniversário!
Our twenty Oxfam volunteers have done a marvellous job, tiredlessly handing over thousands of bookmarks to the public. Visit this website www.tictactictac.org.br and make your voice heard for the next fundamental step on the negotiations on climate change. After Copenhagen, Mexico’s COP16 is the place where the world leaders will gather to decide the planet’s future in December 2010.
Thanks Carlos and Mirella, and all of you, volunteers in Rio and São Paulo. You have been wonderful.
Now time to get ready for Colombia.
Giulia
Posted in: General, South America
Tags: Brazil
March 2nd, 2010 / No Comments » / by giuliab
Two words that perfectly sum up my first impression of São Paulo. Okay: we arrived just at rush hour and the city is huge, but the journey from the airport took us absolutely ages, despite the driver trying his best to find as many shortcuts as one can possibly imagine.
Anyway, we’re finally here, the crew is already loading in for tomorrow’s gig. I haven’t seen the Morumbi Stadium yet, but it’s supposed to be MASSIVE: with a capacity of over 60,000 people, I can only imagine how much noise Coldplay fans will make when they recognize the first few notes of their favourite songs. And from my short experience, that usually happens with every single song!
Oxfam will be at the venue with 20 volunteers led by the amazing Carlos: you’ll see them distributing bookmarks and if you ask they’ll be more than happy to have a chat about how you can take action against climate change.
Last night’s gig in Rio was amazing, despite the Coldplay Cloud (yes, the crew has officially named it) struck again just before the band went on stage, but Rio de Janeiro’s people kept on singing out loud under their colourful plastic macs.
The grand finale here:
That reminds me that I haven’t mentioned the supporting band on tour yet: Bat for Lashes. When they go on stage with their moon and stars backdrop it’s like being projected into a dream PLUS Natasha wears amazing outfits (sorry… little girly note).
Time to go now. See you tomorrow, amigos paulistas!
Giulia
Posted in: General, Latin America
Tags: Latin America, São Paulo
February 28th, 2010 / 1 Comment » / by giuliab
Hello from Rio de Janeiro.
Coldplay are just about to play tonight in the famous sambodromo Apoteose and Oxfam is here, as the band have asked us again if we wanted to come along.
This time it’s me, Giulia, trying to make the most of this opportunity for Oxfam to be heard and to involve as many fans as possible. And I will be reporting for you on the fabulous life of the ‘Oxfam Rep’ on tour.
The tour started last Friday in Buenos Aires, with about 50,000 people in the River Plate stadium singing along to their songs. I was there, free from Oxfam duty for the first concert and suddenly recruited for helping out with firing butterfly-shaped confetti during Lovers in Japan: an exciting task that is likely to continue for the rest of the tour. So that’s just one of the magic moments of the show, and the Argentinian fans replied with an amazing blue ola made of cell phones (that’s how it goes these days, no more old-style lighters).
Now we’re in Brazil for two concerts (Rio and Sao Paulo) and it’s been a long day for the tour crew because of delays after the earthquake in Chile. Oxfam is sending staff to Santiago to assess the situation (just thought it’d be nice to point that out in an Oxfam blog).
Right now twenty-one great volunteers from Oxfam Brasil are campaigning on the issues of climate change, asking people to sign up to Tic Tac - you can do it here:
www.tictactictac.org.br
The Apoteose is a strange venue: it’s the place where the carnival parade is held, so it’s a long, long corridor among two huge stands. Oxfam’s tent is opposite the stage, near the entrance, so if you get a moment, come and say hello!
Giulia
Posted in: General, Latin America
Tags: Brazil, Rio De Janeiro
September 17th, 2009 / 3 Comments » / by Pete
Here we are. Paused on the finish line. The finale. The final shows of the VIVA tour this year. Hundreds of flourescent jackets are scurrying about inside this huge, world famous stadium. You can already sense the rush and anticipation, which will only be quenched when Coldplay take the stage. It’s a huge occasion. Everyone is pulling out all the stops, to make the next two days, days to remember for a long time.Of course, this place is a venue full of memories, where dreams come true. England won a world cup here! Just last week, English football rubber stamped a place in next years show piece in South Africa. The last time I was here, my team, Luton Town, won the Johnson’s Paint Trophy, on a glorious Spring day. Anything that happens here is a spectacle, and I’m sure the next two nights will follow suit.
Coldplay will have support from the incredible Jay-Z, pop stars Girls Aloud and the impressive White Lies. OXJAM, Oxfam’s month-long music festival, will have the support of Coldplay. Buskers will again show how easy it is to put on a gig, to share your love of live music, and raise some money for Oxfam. Our OXJAM acts ‘Mr Newell’s Breakfast Club’ and ‘Bowjangles’ will add another dimension to an already eclectic line-up.
I can’t quite believe I’m inside England’s national stadium. Walking past kit rooms, dressing rooms, changing rooms, I felt like I was 11 again, dreaming of playing in the FA cup final. I’m writing to you from the crew room, which oddly is the drug-testing room.. It all feels slightly surreal. As I walked into the venue, I glanced across at Wembley Arena. That of course, is where the VIVA tour all started, with production days and rehearsals to make this the best show it could be. Millions of fans have flocked to see Coldplay, and hundreds of thousands have take action with Oxfam, in the 16 months it has taken the tour to cross the road, to this world-famous stadium. The home of football, and for two nights only, the home of Coldplay.
Looking back over my shoulder, I have failed to mention the huge success of the past few days. We left Manchester with 163 people planning to get involved with Oxjam in October, and with funds raised for Oxfam’s work to overcome poverty. Making our way to Dublin, we were greeted with another stunning late summer’s day. Oxfam Ireland’s outreachers helped an incredible 2100 people to sign postcards to their prime minister, urging the government to stop cutting aid, and to hold firm on aid commitments. This was part of the We Do Care coalition
www.wedocare.ie
Elbow were the second support in Dublin. They are surely one of the best bands around at the moment, and a real treat for any music lover. If you get the chance to check out an Elbow live show, or failing that, any of their albums, I totally recommend it.
We then wound our way to Glasgow, for Coldplay’s biggest ever show in Scotland. Over 30’000 people cheered them to another triumphant show in the national stadium, Hampden Park. There was a great atmosphere and another beautiful night (seriously, we’ve had amazing weather!). As the crowd entered the stadium, they were treated to some of the best musicians they would see all night at the Oxfam tent. Pure Brass came out in support of OXJAM, and played 4 great sets in the evening sunshine. As the trumpets, French horns, tubas and trombones belted out some great Coldplay covers, the donations started raining in. It was a perfect night. Thank ‘you so much to our Oxjam volunteers from Edinburgh and Glasgow and further afield. Thank you again to the incredible ‘Pure Brass’. Amazing.
So, back to the end. Wembley will welcome 140’000 cheering Coldplay fans by Saturday night. Oxjam will be here to entertain them on Level 2. It’s the end of production day, i’d better go and get some rest for show day.. If you get the chance, come and find out about a great opportunity to use your love of music, for positive change. See you there.
Pete
Posted in: General
September 13th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Pete
It is now.
For Manchester at least. The VIVA tour is not quite done yet.. 4 shows to go. 3 Countries. 2 national stadiums. 1 week. The bands have left. The crowds have dispersed from the pitch. The trucks have started their engines, and the Oxfam road case, has been loaded on it’s way to Dublin.
Coldplay. Jay-Z. White Lies. Blackmanalishi. Tone-Acity. ortoPilot. That was the line-up for today’s concert in Manchester. The last three of those played on a slightly smaller stage to the one graced by the ‘best rapper alive’.
All of our OXJAM buskers did a great job today. They were out in front of the grand pavillion of this famous cricket ground, lightening the mood of hundreds of fans waiting for food, drink and toilets. The crowds steadily grew, and more people enjoyed the early entertainment, before heading onto the turf, for the headline set.
Oxfam GB is here, promoting OXJAM. It’s a month-long music festival. It starts in October this year, and will begin with 4 thrilling nights of music at the OXJAM launch events in an Oxfam shop. Oxfam supporters Editors, Fatboy Slim, Basement Jaxx, VV Brown and other’s will be there. Oxjam’s North West team was here tonight promoting their own flagship event in Manchester, the ‘Oxjam Take Over’. Concerts will take place across the city, all in aid of Oxjam. I’m sure there will be something for anyone’s taste, so get yourself down there.
Your Music. Changing the world.
Oxjam is for you, music lovers, everywhere. It’s a huge music festival, with literally thousands of events, bringing people together, through their shared love of music, raising money towards ending poverty. Don’t just care about the world. Change it. Oxjam gives you the chance to put on your own event, with your friends, raising money, to enable more people the have safe water, and for children to learn, and for farmers to adapt to climate change. You can help thousands of people, all over the world, to have a better, more secure future. Sign up now at..
www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam
Today, Oxjam got off the mark, took the first wicket, made the first noise, of this years festival. It was a huge venue this time, and a modest setting under Oxfam’s little tent. Blackmanalishi, huge supporters of Oxjam, strummed and sang their tunes, as Oxjam got moving. Later, UK champion barbershop quartet Tone-Acity brought some beautiful harmony, and later ortoPilot got the waiting crowd singing and dancing with some classic covers including Coldplay, Oasis, Amy Winehouse, Gnarls Barkley and Ocean Colour Scene. It was a great variety, showcasing what Oxjam is all about. It can be the smallest, or the biggest venue. The rarest tunes, or the classic sing-along’s, a busk or a big band. From folk, to funk, to punk.. Absolutely anything goes. It’s up to you.
All our buskers kindly gave their time, and all money raised will go towards Oxfam’s work. Our volunteers also gave their time, and signed up fans to be event organisers themselves, and to help out at shows, or just to find out more, and go along to a concert. What will you do?
I was there when Coldplay rushed off the stage and back onto the road. Jay-Z was clearly happy to be a part of the show tonight, delivering a fantastic set. He’s one of those performers who can whip up a crowd and have them in the palm of his hand. I’ve been excited about his show all along, and from what I saw, I wasn’t disappointed. I look forward to seeing some more in Glasgow and London. White Lies are well in the groove now. One of the fastest growing reputations around will have been boosted again playing to another huge audience. 50’000 were here tonight. I looked out from the pavillion balcony at one point.. A sea of people swaying in time. Amazing.
The show can only get better with the addition of Elbow in Dublin. I really can’t wait for that.
Two nights ago, the Oxfam Novib caravan made it’s last stop on this tour, with a beautiful evening in Nijmegen. Volunteers dressed as teachers, to highlight the campaign for health and education for all, were busy across the site. They asked fans to make a promise and lend a hand. Fans promised and stuck to their word, and held up hundreds of green hands during Yellow to show their support. It was quite a sight, and another great night for Oxfam. Over 2400 people signed up in Holland.
These fields are jam packed with people who can be involved with Oxfam’s work. Put on music events. Raise money. Join campaigns. Take actions. Why not have a go at an Oxjam gig yourself? Make Music - Raise Money - End Poverty.
I’m off to my bunk, see you in Dublin.. Pete
Posted in: General
September 9th, 2009 / 3 Comments » / by Pete
Sitting in Goffertpark, Nijmegen. Surrounded by autumnal tinged green trees. It’s a beautiful late summer’s day in The Netherlands. To my right, I can see the big stage star-light VIVA balloons being hoisted up onto lighting towers. Speaker stacks being raised by the riggers. Fork lift trucks keep rumbling past me carrying fencing, cases, portaloos and various other loads, as Goffertpark prepares to host two days of the Coldplay festival.
By my feet are the keys to the little green Oxfam Novib caravan, which is parked in it’s spot for the next few days of campaigning on the ‘Big Promise’ Millenium Development Goals actions. Two volunteers hitch-hiked it this morning to the site from 100km away. It may be small, but tomorrow, it will be a hive of activity as volunteers give Coldplay fans here, the chance to take their action on poverty, and make a promise, to support Health and Education FOR ALL. They will be carrying post-box backpacks, for people to post their promises, and big green hands so they can wave at each other. I hope that all 122’000 people who come to the show the next couple of days, will see us, and thousands of you will take an action.
The red dome-shaped Coldplay stage, being assembled by their tireless crew, now sits proudly in this field - in prime spot to entertain the masses, once the speakers are cranked up. Oxfam’s caravan is also in the prime spot further across the field, to get lots of people talking, speaking out, and raise the volume in the ears of our world leaders, that it’s about time, every child had the chance to go to school.
Last night, Coldplay almost deafened me by walking off stage at the end of their set. The noise people made to cheer them back on stage for an encore was stunning. The football stadiums they are playing on this tour really hold in the sound like a cauldron of noise. It’s quite something. Oxfam France agir-ici volunteers came away from the show beaming. The evening obviously having left it’s mark. Before the concert, they had been busy with the pens and helped hundreds of fans to make their mark on Health and Education For All. When I counted up at the venue, over 1600 people had signed up, but as the last few sheets which came back, that number kept rolling up. Once again, Coldplay fans showed a willingness to be involved and to speak up on Oxfam’s campaigns. This was one of the best shows by far. I left Paris having really enjoyed my stay. It is a beautiful city, with passionate crowds, who cheer for more music, and stand up for change to overcome poverty. Looking forward now to the Netherlands, and Oxfam Novib’s volunteers having similar success here at Goffertpark.
Posted in: General
September 4th, 2009 / 2 Comments » / by Pete
Back in Barcelona. About a year ago, we were next door, in the Palau St Jordi arena, for one of the best Coldplay shows so far (in my opinion). It was an incredible night. Next door, England fans piled into the stadium where the Coldplay stage now sits, preparing for an international with Andorra. Somehow it feels like it could have been yesterday.. familiar weather, faces, scenery. Fans are already outside waiting to come in. In fact there was a handful of them out there in tents last night..! Fair play to them.
When I came in yesterday, I looked up in catering and noticed the Olympic rings across the wall. This is a great stadium, perched on the top of the hill, overlooking the beautiful city of Barcelona. I’m sure tonight will be a show to remember. 64′000 people will rush through the doors, (some who waited longer than others), and greet Coldplay with a huge roar. From then on, it will be a dual between speakers stacks, and vocal chords, for who can make the most noise.
As I said last time. Intermon Oxfam, here in Barcelona, need some of that noise too, in support of their campaign efforts. They will be there by the entrances and in amongst the crowd, giving fans the opportunity to get involved and lend their voice for a fairer world without poverty.
I’m really looking forward to it. Before that, there is work to be done.. and before Coldplay, there is the incredible Flaming Lips!
Posted in: General
Coldplay has invited Oxfam on their mammoth Viva La Vida World Tour. Throughout 2008 the band played huge shows across 3 continents and 18 countries. Oxfam volunteers were there every step of the way, talking to 100,000s of people about how they can take action to overcome poverty. Now in 2010, Coldplay continue this tour with shows across in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. Oxfam groups around the world will again join the tour, blogging as they go.
