Cheers drowned out tears in Manchester on Sunday as Ariana Grande was joined by fellow music stars for a charity concert where fans vowed to face down fears of terrorism after two deadly attacks in Britain.
“Let the world hear your resilience,” Pharrell Williams told a sell-out crowd of 50,000 who had gathered to remember victims of a May 22 suicide bomb attack on Grande’s concert in the city.
The hastily-organised “One Love Manchester” event became one of the biggest single gatherings of musical talent this year.
Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Robbie Williams, Take That, Liam Gallagher, and Little Mix were among those who hit the stage, as fans held “We stand together” and “For our angels” signs.
Fans flocked to the Old Trafford cricket ground for the show, many of them with tears rolling down their cheeks during the performances. In one heartfelt moment, Grande was joined on stage by children from a local school, some of whom were at the targeted Manchester Arena concert, as the group performed her hit song My Everything .
Grande and Coldplay’s Chris Martin performed “Don’t look back in anger”, the track by Manchester Britpop band Oasis which crowds sang during vigils after the bombing.
