CELEBRITIES
Catch Elton John concerts on YouTube
Elton John is launching a weekly archival concert footage series titled “Elton John: Classic Concert Series,” featuring footage from concerts throughout his career on his official YouTube channel.
The series begins Friday exclusively on YouTube with “Live at Playhouse Theatre, Edinburgh” from 1976. Following the episode, a new, epic two-hour concert set will premiere on John’s YouTube channel every Saturday for six weeks. The series will raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in support of COVID-19 relief efforts.
John says: “My foundation’s COVID-19 emergency fund helps frontline partners prepare for and respond to the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalized communities. We cannot jeopardize HIV testing and care during this time or else the results could be disastrous for the 37.5 million people living with HIV. So, I’m really happy to connect this YouTube concert series to benefit our foundation’s urgent COVID response.”
Recorded as part of the Edinburgh Festival of Popular Music on Sept. 17, 1976, “Live at the Playhouse Theatre” dates from the height of John’s ’70s heyday. The solo performance kicks off with his early hit “Skyline Pigeon” before concluding with “Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting),” and includes “Rocket Man,” “Daniel” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
“I feel like it’s important more than ever to give our next generation the tools to succeed in life,” the rapper said in a statement.
The festival is one of the largest in the country each year. A lineup had not been announced.
The massive 2020 list includes a diverse swath of people from all sectors of the industry. Invited actors include Ana De Armas, Brian Tyree Henry, Florence Pugh, Lakeith Stanfield, Beanie Feldstein and Constance Wu. Directors like Lulu Wang, Ari Aster, Terence Davies and Matthew Vaughn are also on the list.