News & events

Concert at ICA raises awareness about homelessness

18-year-old Gabriella Cilmi, whose single ‘Sweet About Me’ was the UK’s most played song of 2009, is supporting the launch of Streets of London concerts for homelessness, a fresh initiative that will raise awareness about homelessness with some great live music. Gabriella returns for a fresh assault on the charts with new dance floor anthem-in-the-making ‘On A Mission’ out on 8 March.

The prestigious 350-capacity ICA will be the setting for an intimate gig at which Gabriella will showcase her forthcoming second album ‘Ten’, set for release on 22 March. “I'm very happy to be performing at the Streets of London concert on March the 4th, and helping them raise awareness about this issue”, says Gabriella. “The money raised will go towards The Connection at St Martins - a day centre that provides support for more than 200 homeless people every day. After reading about how many lives the facility has helped change, I'm honoured to get on board”.

Two short films specially commissioned for the event will be shown between the musical acts. These shorts challenge preconceptions about homelessness by showing those affected as individuals in crisis rather than stereotypes. They show that many of the situations that force people into homelessness are things that could happen to any of us. Bill, a businessman who slept rough for a period, says this: "For anybody who says it could never happen to me, I can tell you I had the same sentiments and it did happen to me. You can never tell what's round the corner. It can happen to anybody."

For further information or to book tickets please go to http://www.ica.org.uk/23893/Music/Streets-of-London-Concert-for-Homelessness.html or telephone 020 7930 3647