Both the intensity of the voices on stage and the applause in the crowd at the 'One Love Manchester' Benefit Concert at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Greater Manchester was extremely powerful and emotional. Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Coldplay, Pharrell Williams, The Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, and more sang songs to commemorate the victims that were lost during the suicide bombing at Ariana Grande's concert on May 22nd. This was Grande's first public appearance since the attack, as her remaining concerts in London were suspended.
Her schedule is now set to resume in Paris on June 7th.
The latest terrorist attack
The concert happened less than 24 hours after the latest terrorist attack, which claimed seven more lives in London on Saturday, when a van hit pedestrians on the sidewalk of the London Bridge, immediately followed by three individuals sprinting into a market nearby, holding large knives.
Fan worries about safety
Many fans expressed concern about attending the concert due to recent events but ultimately decided that they weren't going to let these attacks silence them or dictate their lives. The singers onstage shared a similar mentality, as their powerful music indicated defiance and an unwillingness to showcase fear.
Instead, they focused on remembering the 22 beautiful souls that were lost and the dozens of others that were injured. The event brought crowds of all ages and the aura at the event undoubtedly became that of a community united for peace.
The event sold out quickly
Grande announced the concert via Twitter last Monday, one week after the horrific attack in Manchester.
Tickets sold out in minutes. Many concertgoers paid up to 2,500 euros as a donation to the cause, raising almost $3.5 million for the Manchester Emergency Fund, said the British Red Cross. Organizers of ticket sales were also doing their best to ensure that attendants to the May 22nd concert in Manchester were given free tickets.
Increased Security
Because of the nature of this event, security measures were taken very seriously. The Greater Manchester Police Department stated that heightened security would include bag checks and a plethora of police officers surveying nearby streets and transportation stops. Several officers patrolled the location before, during, and after the show on Sunday and they even had canines sniff concertgoers' bags as an extra precaution.
