Dave Dobbyn performs during the You Are Us/Aroha Nui Concert at Spark Arena. Photo / Getty Images
Dave Dobbyn performs during the You Are Us/Aroha Nui Concert at Spark Arena. Photo / Getty Images
A sea of cellphones waving back and forth to Dave Dobbyn singing Welcome Home was a fitting start to tonight's Christchurch benefit event You Are Us/Aroha Nui.
Dobbyn opened the show at Auckland's Spark Arena and the 12,000 strong crowd were quick to get behind the cause.
He posted ashort clip of the song to Facebook saying, "Look at these 12,000 lovely people. See what you have done for Christchurch."
Look at these 12,000 lovely people. See what you have done for Christchurch.
One concert goer tweeted her approval for the first song of the night. "I don't think there could have been a more fitting song than Dave Dobbyn's 'Welcome Home' to open for the #YouAreUs concert."
Singer-songwriter Lorde is performing at the Christchurch event, but couldn't make tonight's show.
Proceeds from both events will go to Lianne Dalziel's Our People, Our City fund, established to help raise money to support the families and Muslim communities impacted by the Christchurch shooting.
Anika Moa is also on tonight's star-studded lineup. Photo / Supplied
Promoter Brent Eccles worked together with Mark Kneebone, from Live Nation, to make the two charity gigs happen.
Eccles said inspiration largely came from the artists. Many had approached him directly, asking what they could do to help.
He received a text from Lorde some time after the two shows were announced.
"She said, 'Hey, I can't do Auckland but I can come back and do Christchurch'," Eccles recalls.
"I was like really? Really?! Okay - yeah!"
Both the Auckland and Christchurch events will be hosted by comedian and mental health advocate Mike King.
