September 5, 2005 15:09

All-star benefit concert planned for Hurricane Katrina survivors

The artists will pay tribute to those affected by the natural disaster…

SHELTER FROM THE STORM: A CONCERT FOR THE GULF COAST is being organised in the US to raise money for the survivors of HURRICANE KATRINA.

The all-star gig is set to be held on September 9 to appeal for donations.

Producer Joel Gallen is behind the event, who also worked on a similar event aired in the days following the September 11 attacks on the US.

The bill has yet to be announced, but the stars will be paying tribute to the victims and rescuers who worked in the affected areas.

Comedian Jerry Lewis has already used his annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon in the US to raise money for the victims of the hurricane.

The telethon – which has been running for 39 years – was devoted to both children with muscular dystrophy and victims of Hurricane Katrina after Lewis saw television reports from the Gulf Coast.

The donations from this event raised a total of $3 million (£1.6 million).

Macy Gray has spoken out about the natural disaster and has also flown to Houston in Texas in order to help affected victims, who are being housed in shelters and in the city’s Astrodome stadium.

She told CNN: “It's great that they're being evacuated out of the disaster but now they need places to go and live.”