Norwich 1985 Live Aid Concert Remembrance
Norwich Remembers: Anglia for Africa, a Local Echo of Live Aid’s Global Call
Norwich, UK – Forty years ago, as teh world watched Live Aid raise awareness and funds to combat famine in Africa, the city of Norwich answered the call with its own powerful concert: Anglia for Africa. On August 31, 1985, Earlham Park transformed into a vibrant hub of music and solidarity, hosting a 12-hour fundraising event that drew thousands of people together for a common cause.
The concert, recently revisited in a special feature for BBC Radio Norfolk’s Thordis Fridriksson program, was more than just a local event; it was a testament to the community’s deep-seated compassion and willingness to act. Featuring a diverse lineup of artists, including rock band Hawkwind, pop group Amazulu, and Motown legends The Supremes (with original member Mary Wilson), Anglia for Africa offered something for everyone, all united by the urgency of the crisis unfolding across the African continent.Chris Dawes, one of the driving forces behind the concert, recalls the incredible wave of support that surged through Norwich in the weeks leading up to the event. “It was probably one of the biggest” of the Live Aid “copycat” events to be held,Dawes noted,highlighting the scale and ambition of the Norwich initiative.
The community’s enthusiasm was palpable. Dawes remembers the generosity of local businesses, who provided free office space in the Charing Cross Centre, and the