Portishead performed live last night (May 2) for the first time in seven years as part of a War Child UK benefit gig for Ukraine at O2 Academy in Bristol.
Marking the first time the trio had played a show since their 2015 appearance at BenicĂ ssim Festival, Portishead performed five songs â ‘Mysterons’, ‘Wandering Star’ and ‘Roads’ from 1997’s ‘Dummy’, and ‘Magic Doors’ and ‘The Rip’ from 2008’s ‘Third’.
Elsewhere on the bill were headliners IDLES along with sets by Billy Nomates, Katy J Pearson, Heavy Lungs, Willie J Healy and Wilderman. Watch snippets of Portishead’s set below:
.@Portisheadinfo are LIVE right now for the first time since 2015! There's still time to tune in. Donate ÂŁ5 to watch > https://t.co/0AKyp8FJEu #WarChild @o2academybris pic.twitter.com/Dw9oRN7Hpg
— War Child UK (@WarChildUK) May 2, 2022
PORTISHEAD – Roads 02/05/2022 #Portishead #WarChild @Portisheadinfo @o2academybris pic.twitter.com/pi5CylhxAv
— KID A (@KID_A_OK) May 2, 2022
Portishead pic.twitter.com/EyfkFcBoru
— Dan Grabham (@dangrabham) May 2, 2022
A very special performance from #Portishead Reunited for Ukraine Charity gig @WarChildUK @Portisheadinfo pic.twitter.com/QOkIj4gJtC
— Rhian Chase (@DrRhianFuge) May 2, 2022
Tickets for the benefit gig, which was announced last month, were only made available through a ÂŁ10 donation prize draw, with winners selected at random. All proceeds from the concert will go to War Child UK to assist with the crisis in Ukraine. Matched funding from the UK government will also go to humanitarian efforts in Yemen.
“We are really pleased to be able to support the people of Ukraine by performing a few songs at this event in collaboration with the amazing War Child charity,” Portishead commented upon the show’s announcement.
The show is one of many benefit concerts that have been organised to help the people of Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of the country.
ITV’s Concert for Ukraine benefit show aired in support of Disasters Emergency Committee‘s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal in March, featuring performances from Ed Sheeran, Manic Street Preachers and more. The concert raised over ÂŁ12million, with the figure expected to rise.
Arcade Fire, meanwhile, recently performed benefit concerts for Ukraine in New Orleans and New York. The latter, a series of four gigs in March, raised over $100,000 for the PLUS1 Ukraine Relief Fund.
The post Watch Portishead perform live for the first time since 2015 appeared first on NME.
