Star-studded concert for Rhys Jones at Echo Arena

Aug 8 2008 by Michael Green, Chester Chronicle

The life of murdered Liverpool schoolboy, Rhys Jones, is to be remembered with a special charity gala concert at the Echo Arena, Liverpool next Friday, August 15.

Stars of sound, stage and screen will perform at Liverpool Unites: Concert for Rhys, and more big names are to be announced soon.

The concert was the idea of two friends of Rhys’s mother, Melanie Jones. Kate Mayers and Sarah Doughty were both devastated when the Everton fan was killed walking home from football practise last August 22.

They wanted to do something to remember him and approached The Chronicle’s sister paper the Liverpool Echo, who recruited the aid of city promoter, Lyn Staunton of Power Promotions, and the concert was born.

The variety show-style performance will include former Spice Girl turned solo artist Melanie C and ex-Atomic Kitten Natasha Hamilton.

Acts such as X-Factor’s Eton Road and Soapstar Superstar’s Richard Fleesman, will also grace the huge stage in the Echo Arena alongside Jimmy Tarbuck and Sue Jenkins to make the event one for all the family.

Singer, Tony Christie, will sing Rhys’s favourite song –(Is this the way to) Amarillo?

Money raised from the concert will go to the Liverpool Echo’s Liverpool Unites campaign and the Rhys Jones memorial fund. The fund hopes to raise enough to build a community centre in honour of the 11-year-old on the Croxteth Park estate where he grew up.

Mrs Jones said: “We are really thrilled and excited about the concert, and we know it will be an amazing night. We hope lots of money will be raised to go towards building a community centre in Rhys’s name.”

Melanie C said: “I don’t know a person who wasn’t moved by what happened to Rhys. It was tragic and it made me so angry. When I was a kid you could play out and it was nothing like it is today. I hope this concert helps to make a difference.”

Tickets are priced at £20, £15 subject to a booking/handling fee from 0844 8000 400.