Review: HELP! A War Child Benefit Concert, O2 Academy – ‘A very successful night that none of us will ever forget’

War Child UK, Crosstown Concerts and Friendly Records joined forces to offer Bristol one of the most exciting nights of the year on May Day at the O2 Academy with their HELP! concert, putting on an extraordinary show featuring the finest local artists for the sake of a great cause.

I had the chance to meet Conal Dods, one of the owners and main promoters of Crosstown Concerts, who took the time to explain to me how it all started, and it sounded very familiar: a bunch of people sitting down together, watching the news and thinking what can we do to help? From there, Tom Friend from Friendly Records, who is a good friend of Portishead’s founding member Geoff Barrow joined the project, and everyone else followed naturally, ultimately creating this unique event.

Heavy Lungs opened the night and they gave their very best for their first show of 2022. Lead vocalist Danny Nedelko, originally from Odessa, offered a frenetic and aggressive performance coming from a very personal place. It is hard to look anywhere else when he dances, staggers and jumps in the crowd, all punctuated by backing vocals and hard beats from drummer George Garratt, James Minchall’s resonant bass and Oliver Southgate’s powerful guitar. The set ends with the typical fixed stare at the audience from Nedelko, hands right up and everyone follows his lead.

Tom Laurent and Ed Warren on the lights managed to set up an intimate and magnetic atmosphere as the main room of the O2 was slowly filling up, ready to welcome the next act from the fascinating singer-songwriter, Katy J Pearson. Her music was quite the jump from the noisy rock delivered by Heavy Lungs, switching to the delicate and soaring melodies she offers. Among the peaceful pit, you could easily distinguish Big Jeff’s curls moving around as he was giving the tempo to the rest of the crowd. She performed among others her new song Alligator which unanimously provoked an enthusiastic welcome. Her graceful vocal performance seduced us all as it always does, and she mentioned to me after the show how grateful she is to be a part of this event. And we are grateful too.

Pearson’s graceful vocal performance seduced us all as it always does. Credit: Chris Cooper

Right after Billy Nomates’ show, the bassist of IDLES Adam Devonshire and Katy J Pearson were randomly picking up the winners of the prize raffle offering gig and festival tickets, pubs vouchers and signed prints for Big Jeff. Another opportunity for the public to try their luck!

Then it was time for the most expected band of the night: Portishead. It was their first live performance in 7 years, and their first show back in Bristol in 17 years, after another benefit gig in 2005 to raise money for the victims of the Tsunami, alongside Massive Attack, Robert Plant and Damon Albarn.

Portishead moved the crowd in a way I’ve never seen before. Credit: Chris Cooper

They played a short set of 5 songs, including Mysterons and Magic Door, that was enough to move the crowd in a way I’ve never seen before. Each of their songs were phenomenally acclaimed and you could feel a praying energy in the O2 Academy. We all knew how lucky we were to witness this mighty return on stage from the legendary trio and trust me, they didn’t lose their thunder.

IDLES was closing the event with an hour set, and they came on stage to finish igniting the whole venue. Conal Dods confessed that they landed back from Berlin late the night before and sound checked after midnight on the day of the event. Such a devotion is worth mentioning as the band has been touring all over for the past months and still they committed to this very special night. As usual and as expected they were furiously on point. They obviously played their famous song named after the lead singer of Heavy Lungs Danny Nedelko and he joined the stage for this beautiful celebration of acceptance and multiculturalism. A forceful last act concluding the night with a perfume of joy and unity.

Photography at the War Child Benefit Concert Bristol on May 2nd 2022 by Chris Cooper/ www.ShotAway.com/ shotawaydotcom

At the end of the evening, including the ticket sales and prize raffle, plus the government Aid Match, the event raised an unbelievable total of over 90K for War Child UK! A very successful night that none of us will ever forget.

Thank you notes on the big screens next to the main stage were naming all the people involved and linked to this event, all of them working hard and giving their time and energy for the charity.

I wish I had the chance to see Wilderman, Willie J Healy and Billy Nomates who performed some amazing sets as many testified afterwards. Once again I am incredibly grateful I had the chance to be a part of this, and it was beautiful to witness so many people getting together to make a difference at this level. Bristol, you can be proud!

Special mentions were given to those who dedicated their time to such a special event. Credit: Chris Cooper

Main photo: Chris Cooper

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