SOUTHBOUND organisers had less than 48 hours to plan a fundraising event on Sunday after the cancellation of the festival last weekend following the south west fires.
About 3500 music fans attended the concert at HBF Stadium to see local and international acts and raised over $150,000 for those affected by the fires.
Southbound director David Chitty said Sunset events staff were overwhelmed with the response from the community.
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READ NOW“Local businesses, suppliers, staff and our local and international artists who dropped everything to make this event happen last night,” Mr Chitty said.
“The people of WA wasted no time throwing their support and money behind this event to help out our friends in the South West through this devastating time.”
Originally on the Southbound bill, Fremantle band San Cisco joined fellow Perth band Koi Child for the event.
San Cisco drummer Scarlett Stevens said she was inspired to see so many people come together after the popular festival was cancelled last Thursday night.
“We chose to be a part of it to show our support for everyone in the South-West, an area all of us in the band have a strong affinity with,” Ms Stevens said.
“It was really nice to see so many musicians both local and international artists make something positive out of such a terrible event.
“The crowd seemed very receptive and I think everyone was just stoked that there was still an event they could go to in light of the cancellation.”
VenuesWest Chairman Richard Muirhead said it was wonderful to see so many people rallying to help fellow West Australians affected by the devastating South West bush fires.
“To put together a concert for 3,500 people in under two days is an amazing achievement and I commend everyone involved,” Mr Muirhead said.
Mindarie resident Laura Thomas said the event was intimate and relaxed.
“When Perth band Birds of Tokyo played Lanterns you could feel the emotions of the crowd, everyone was singing along together and the band organised a slideshow of images that made us all remember why we were attending the event,” Ms Thomas said.
“Everyone in the crowd really loved seeing some of their favourite artists show their compassionate side.”
A Sunset events spokeswoman said many Southbound patrons volunteered to donate their ticket refund to the cause.
She said information on full ticket refunds would be available by January 13 and included further information on how to donate through Moshtix.