Peace One Day Concert: Backstage Quotes And Personal Musings

On June 21, 2012, thousands packed Derry's Ebrington Square to hear the likes of Newton Faulkner, Imelda May and Pixie Lott kick off the London 2012 festival with a musical extravaganza hosted by Jude Law. Si's Sights And Sounds went backstage at the occasion to hear what the stars and organisers had to say, before adding personal musings on the event itself...

Peace One Day founder Jeremy Gilley (centre) poses with Derry band The Wonder Villains

Peace One Day Founder Jeremy Gilley:

"The whole purpose of the event is to not only open the London 2012 festival, but to begin a three-month countdown towards September 21, when we hope to see the largest reduction of violence ever recorded. Students, domestic violence organizations and NGOs all over the world are coming together to decrease violence on a scale never recorded before.

"We wanted to talk about the message of peace, and we thought Derry would be a wonderful place to do that. The people of this city are obviously very proud, and I can think of no better location to send a positive, constructive message out, that peace is possible. It's about gathering your friends, converted or otherwise, and working together.

"I've been all over Derry, and I'm both proud and honoured to be here. It's incredible to be on a site like the Ebrington Barracks. If you're going to show that truce is possible, you couldn't be in a better place."

Peace One Day Ambassador Jude Law (right):

"We're thrilled to be in Derry, because here, we can give such a positive message to the world in a place where truce and peace can work. The location is a story in itself, a former barracks linked by a Peace Bridge. Derry is a youthful and vibrant city which needs an event like this. It ticks all the boxes for what we should be putting out to the whole world as a nation."

Derry band The Wonder Villains: 

"It's great to be part of such a massive event with so many big names on show. We feel even prouder that it's in our own backyard, as everyone in the crowd seems to know us! There's a real party atmosphere all around. Everyone's buzzing."

Newton Faulkner:

"I got involved with Peace One Day when I was doing the celebration at the O2 last year, and I've been trying to do as much as I can for them ever since. It's all about letting people know that hope is possible. The hospitality I've received in this beautiful city has been amazing."

Fyfe Dangerfield of The Guillemots:

"When I walked over the bridge and sifted in amongst the crowd, I thought, 'Wow, that's a lot of people!'. It made me feel very excited. Being involved in something like Peace One Day is fantastic, because when you get a lot of people together at an event like this, there's a celebration in the air. There's an energy that allows everyone to have a good time, which is the real essence of peace."

Imelda May (left):

"That Jeremy asked me to be involved in such a good cause is a wonderful thing. It's nice to perform in front of such a lovely bunch of people, in an ex-barracks that's now been handed over as a park. The Derry audience is as good as you get anywhere else, if not better. Events like this one inspire you to make things better for your children."

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Personal Musings...

To me, the opening of Ebrington Square had been a fine occasion, but this was the night that truly established the former barracks as an event venue. Both the park and Peace Bridge came to life in a manner never seen before, with neither rain nor mud deterring the population from thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The tip of the iceberg was Pixie Lott (right) taking the stage and launching into "Girls And Boys", a moment that was enough to make this journalist forget about his notebook and simply just enjoy an open air gig again.

It was an event worthy of both Peace One Day and the city itself. The smile on my face at the end of the night was as wide as the Peace Bridge was full.

I'll let an Irish poet have the final word. As Arthur O'Shaughnessy (alright, Willy Wonka) aptly put it:

"We are the music makers; and we are the dreamers of dreams."

Who knows what this little city of ours may conjure up next?

Check out highlights of the event below:

(Video courtesy of Rory McSwiggan.)