Oxfam Tour Blog: 4 September 2009

From WikiColdplay

Singing in the rain.

Here's a note from Bern a couple of days ago.. originally scrawled on a scrap of paper

I’ve just run out of the pouring rain. My hoodie is soaked and my trousers, rolled up, to avoid soaking up any more puddles. Out of the front lounge window, on the tour bus, I can see a constant flow of people hurrying home. Like a river of people flowing out of the exits of the Stade de Suisse, and splintering off into tributaries. The reverse of what I was taught about river systems in Geography.

A few minutes ago, just behind the stage trucks to my right, popping - fizzing - banging pyrotechnics lit up the sky to compete with the lightning, spotlights and camera flashes, and bring another triumphant Coldplay show to a close. 40′000 more people have seen the spectacular open-air show in an incredible summer for one of the world’s biggest bands. And here we are.. Oxfam is playing it’s part in this event too. *I think* .. this was the 150th show of the VIVA world tour. A lot of people have passed through the gates, sung along, clapped hands, campaigned with Oxfam, in that time.. and a few have got a bit wet too.

The rain took nothing away from the atmosphere tonight. When the band ventured into the stormy weather, lightning flashing over the stadium, thunder multiplying the bass, steam rising from the crowd, they must have almost flooded their guitars. It fell down. Rivulets forming on the side of sound mixing tents, the giant stage, and the little Oxfam tent. I was impressed by the crowd. Just pulling out their raincoats in unison and getting on with singing.

Bern has been a stormy city for the tour. Similar downpours endured by the crew during Production day. But the show wen’t on (of course), and it was a cracker!

Today, Oxfam teamed up with a partner organisation here in Switzerland, called Clean Clothes Campaign, which campaigns for fairer production of clothing, and better working conditions for manufacturers. It relates to the Oxfam Make Trade Fair campaign, which Coldplay have supported strongly in the past. The Clean Clothes Campaign aims to connect us all more to what we buy, to know where it came from, who made it, and to ensure they wern’t exploited along the way.

Most people in the audience pulled out a raincoat when it poured tonight - so it is about knowing more about what got that there. Simple stuff. Something we can all do. Everyone deserves a fair chance. A fair wage for a product they have made. The same rights that people would expect here in Switzerland. As it says in Oxfam International’s Coldplay concert flyer.. a woman in Switzerland can expect to live to 84. A woman born in Swaziland, Southern Africa, can only expect to live until she’s 39. That’s crazy. That’s people’s lives. Not just numbers.

Huge amounts of people can change the world. Make change happen, which makes life fairer for all of us. So we need lot’s of people to shout for the same cause, to change the world…..

Good job we’re here on the Coldplay tour then, eh?

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/plusby/singing-in-the-rain/

Boomerang to Barcelona.

Back in Barcelona. About a year ago, we were next door, in the Palau St Jordi arena, for one of the best Coldplay shows so far (in my opinion). It was an incredible night. Next door, England fans piled into the stadium where the Coldplay stage now sits, preparing for an international with Andorra. Somehow it feels like it could have been yesterday.. familiar weather, faces, scenery. Fans are already outside waiting to come in. In fact there was a handful of them out there in tents last night..! Fair play to them.

When I came in yesterday, I looked up in catering and noticed the Olympic rings across the wall. This is a great stadium, perched on the top of the hill, overlooking the beautiful city of Barcelona. I’m sure tonight will be a show to remember. 64′000 people will rush through the doors, (some who waited longer than others), and greet Coldplay with a huge roar. From then on, it will be a dual between speakers stacks, and vocal chords, for who can make the most noise.

As I said last time. Intermon Oxfam, here in Barcelona, need some of that noise too, in support of their campaign efforts. They will be there by the entrances and in amongst the crowd, giving fans the opportunity to get involved and lend their voice for a fairer world without poverty.

I’m really looking forward to it. Before that, there is work to be done.. and before Coldplay, there is the incredible Flaming Lips!

http://www.oxfamblogs.org/coldplay/plusby/boomerang-to-barcelona/