BLK JKS, ALICIA KEYS, VIEUX FARKA TOURE, AMADOU & MARIAM, SHAKIRA
TO PERFORM AT FIRST-EVER FIFA WORLD CUP™ KICK-OFF CELEBRATION CONCERT
 BLK JKS |
Control Room and FIFA have announced the first group of legendary musicians confirmed to perform at the FIFA
WORLD CUP KICK-OFF CELEBRATION CONCERT. BLK JKS, Alicia Keys, Amadou & Mariam, Angelique Kidjo, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Juanes, Shakira, The Parlotones, Tinariwen, Vieux Farka Toure, and Vusi Mahlasela will perform at the historic event taking place the night before the first
match at 8:00 p.m. local time (1 p.m. EST) on June 10, 2010, at the newly-renovated Orlando Stadium in
Soweto, Johannesburg.
This is the first time the FIFA World Cup is being held on the African continent, with 32 national teams from all over
the world playing matches in ten South African stadiums in the hope of being crowned World Champions. The last
FIFA World Cup in Germany attracted a global cumulative television audience of over 26 billion viewers.
“We are thrilled to have a concert of such magnitude and performing talent raise the curtain on the first FIFA World
Cup in Africa. It is testament to the universal and unifying power of football and music, and will start the
competition off on the right note – of celebration,” said FIFA Secretary General Jerôme Valcke.
“We in South Africa are blessed to be hosting two first-time events – the first FIFA World Cup held on the African
continent and the first FIFA World Cup Kick-off Celebration Concert – and I believe these historic events will go a
long way towards uniting the people of our rainbow nation in South Africa as well as further strengthening our
relationships with our brothers and sisters on the African continent,” said Lucas Radebe, former South African
football international and participant in the Kick-off Concert. “After All, this is an African World Cup being staged in
South Africa. Music and sports are the lifeblood of African culture, so to combine those in this historic event will be
a true celebration of African Culture.”
Executive-produced by Emmy Award-winning producer Kevin Wall and his company Control Room, in partnership
with local promoter, Showtime Entertainment, the event will feature musical performances by major international
superstars and popular African artists collaborating together, along with special appearances by past and present
football legends with all proceeds to benefit “20 Centres for 2010,” the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World
Cup South Africa™. Expected to be the greatest entertainment event to date on the African continent, the event will
be televised to millions worldwide.
Public Tickets
Music fans around the world can purchase tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime concert today online at www.computicket.com or via phone on (27) 083 915 8000.
For more information about the official FIFA WORLD CUP KICK-OFF CELEBRATION CONCERT, please visit www.fifa.com/concert.
Trey Anastasio
Blind Boys of Alabama
ACL 2008 by Perlaky