Last night, a host of musicians — including luminaries such as Alison Moyet and Billy Bragg — gathered at London’s O2 Sheperd’s Bush Empire to honor the life and musical legacy of Kirsty MacColl on what would have been the beloved English singer-songwriter’s 51st birthday.
The sold-out “A Concert for Kirsty MacColl” was to have included a performance by Shane MacGowan, who famously duetted with the late singer on the Pogues’ holiday classic “Fairytale of New York.” But according to this write-up of last night’s show, he pulled out of the event due to “ill health.”
We’ve assembled a few clips of last night’s concert: Above, you’ll find Bragg singing his own song “A New England,” which MacColl covered in 1984 and scored a Top 10 hit with. Below, we’ve got Moyet performing MacColl’s “Head” and “Walking Down Madison,” Bragg singing “Free World,” and Amy MacDonald doing “Fairytale of New York” — with the drummer filling in for the absent MacGowan.
Last night’s concert benefited MacColl’s charity Music Fund for Cuba, and marked the 10th anniversary of the singer’s controversial death in a Mexican boating accident.
See more video from last night’s Kirsty MacColl tribute after the jump…
A New England- One of my favorites of all time from the first time I heard it…”Is it wrong to wish on space hardware?”
Thanks for some great Alison Moyet!
Great footage. Please post more if it becomes available. I would say that Alison stoled the show just by viewing those two clips.
I was there – It was an amazing gig – and Alison Moyet did steal the show but it was just immense throughout – looks like it may be an annual event now so can’t wait for next year !