Songs of Freedom is bringing a benefit concert for women and children in Ukraine to Manchester’s Co-op Live on Wednesday, 3 February 2027. The first announcement names Bob Geldof, Madness, the Doobie Brothers and Peter Hook & the Light among the people appearing live. Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand appear on a separate list for video contributions.
That distinction matters if one name is the reason you’re considering a trip. The organiser’s lineup groups performers under “First wave appearing live” and contributors under “By video.” The live list also includes Chrissie Hynde, the Lathums, Midge Ure and the Songs for Ukraine Choir. The video list includes Sean Penn and Okean Elzy. If you’re going mainly to see McCartney or Streisand in person, the current listing only promises a video contribution.
The first list leaves some room
The organiser says the headliner is still to be announced. The first wave doesn’t establish the running order, the length of anyone’s appearance or which artists might perform together. If you would go for the collective bill, there is already a set of live names to work with. If you are waiting for a specific set or a headliner, that part of the decision remains open.
The Co-op Live event page lists a Co-op Member Presale at 10am on Thursday, 12 November, and general sale at 10am on Monday, 16 November. Those are Manchester sale times. February 3 is the show date. Readers using the member route should follow the venue’s Co-op app instructions and check their access before the presale opens.
What the venue says about the money
Co-op Live says ticket sales are received by Songs of Freedom Limited, a trading subsidiary of The Monday Charitable Trust. The venue says the trust will receive 100% of the net profits for distribution to the relevant charities. The distinction is in the words “net profits.” The statement does not put the full face value of each ticket into a single charity’s hands or specify how much any group will receive.
The organiser names four groups it is supporting: UNITED24, Voices of Children, People of the Future, and the Masha Foundation’s Unbreakable Mom programme. The same page offers a separate donation link for anyone interested in the cause without attending.
Our Turnstile benefit report followed a total reported after a concert. This announcement is earlier in the process. You can see how the venue says the money will be handled, while the amount raised remains to be reported.