The concert is the brainchild of Damien Vergnaud, owner of Inverdoorn Game Reserve and Iziba Safari Lodge and founder of RhinoProtect, the organisation that Stand Up! will support. RhinoProtect was born out of desperation when it became clear to Vergnaud that the three rhinos at Inverdoorn were under imminent threat of poaching. "We had been considering for a long time what more could be done to safeguard our three rhinos when nearby game reserve Fairy Glen's rhinos were poached," said Vergnaud. "That shocked us into action and we took the controversial decision to treat the horns with a substance that would firstly make it hard to smuggle through airports and secondly, if ingested, could result in severe illness in humans."
With the success of the treatment in warding off potential poachers thus far, the mandate of RhinoProtect has since expanded to offer the treatment to other game reserves around the country to help protect more rhinos. As a result, the concept of a concert to raise the much-needed funds was born. The concert will have a triple function: raise awareness, raise the necessary funds for RhinoProtect, and raise the roof with a sublime reggae party.
"When Damien contacted me with his idea for a rhino benefit concert, I knew The Wailers would jump at the chance," said Clyde Finlayson, founder of Concerts for a Cause. "They were heading to South Africa for a gig in Joburg anyway, before travelling to Livingstone in Zambia, so it was a perfect opportunity to add their influential voice to this important cause."
The supporting acts were all eager not only to share a stage with The Wailers, but also to take a stance against rhino poaching. "The poaching and killing of rhinos solely for their horns, is the cruellest form of animal abuse I can think of. Such a majestic animal condemned to death for the sake of someone else's perception of pleasure is sad," added The Rudimentals lead bassist Bong. "So when we heard that The Wailers were headlining and throwing their weight behind this movement, we knew we couldn't miss out."
RhinoProtect has secured financial management services from Swiss-based, registered NPO - The Caleo Foundation. The foundation, which is primarily concerned with art and nature conservation, will manage and administer all funds raised for the work of RhinoProtect.
This one-night-only concert will be held this Freedom Day, Friday, 27 April. Tickets are priced at R235 for standard tickets and R420 for VIP tickets. Doors open at 8pm till early hours.
VIP Tickets available at www.webtickets.co.za only
Standard tickets available at:
Long Street, Claremont: +27 (0)21 671 9846
Long Street, Tygervalley: +27 (0)21 914 3136
Skint, Long Street: +27 (0)21 801 3536
Skint, Noordhoek: +27 (0)21 785 7777
Gypsy, Durbanville: +27 (0)21 976 2604
Gypsy, Stellenbosch: +27 (0)21 886 7157
Gypsy, Kalk Bay: +27 (0)21 788 6802
Hoodoo Tattoo, Big Bay: +27 (0)21 554 4086
The Surf Centre, Canal Walk: +27 (0)21 555 4970
Pakololo, Hout Bay: +27 (0)21 790 0700
Ska, Observatory: +27 (0)21 447 6014
Follow at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rhinoprotect
Twitter: @RhinoProtect
Websites: www.rhinoprotect.org or www.standup.rhinoprotect.org
