Photo: Press
Emeli Sande, Rizzle Kicks, Jessie J, Rudimental, and Ed Sheeran will perform at a charity concert at the O2 to mark the 20th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence's murder in South London.
Taking place on 29th September, at the London O2 arena, UK urban stars will perform as a pivotal part of the SL20 campaign, set up by the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, which champions young people and their abilities.
"It sounds like a cliche," Doreen Lawrence, Stephen's mother and founder of the charitable trust said at the conference announcing the line up. "But children really are the future."
"I would like Stephen to be remembered as a young man who had a future," she added. "He was well loved, and had he been given the chance to survive maybe he would have been the one to bridge the gap between black and white because he didn't distinguish between black or white. He saw people as people”
Watch the artists involved speak of their support for the charity and concert below
Labyrinth, Plan B, Jamie Cullum, Tinie Tempah, and Soul II Soul complete the current line up, with more to be announced in the coming months.
The majorty of the line up weren't born, or were very young when the murder took place, however they all speak of how it influenced their lives.
"It gave opportunities for us to learn about racism, Rizzle Kicks said at the press conference. "We were lucky and didn't really experience racism."
Emeli Sande said of the show: "20 years ago, we would have seen people of so many different races on stage together. It is a reflection of how far we have come, and of this generation."
The charity will take place on 29th September. Tickets go on sale on Friday 21 June at 9am. For more information visit Gigwise Gig Tickets.
Below: photos from the London launch at Abbey Road studios
