Who is Antytila? Ukrainian band asks Ed Sheeran to let them play at his charity concert
Antytila, a Ukrainian band, has requested Ed Sheeran to let them perform at a massive charity event to support refugees fleeing the country's strife. Taras Topolya, keyboardist Serhiy Vusyk, bassist Mykhailo Chirko, guitarist Dmitry Acorn, and drummer Dmitry Vodovozov, members of the MTV EMA-nominated band, want to perform remotely from Kyiv at the upcoming Concert For Ukraine in Birmingham next week.
The two-hour benefit performance will run on ITV on Tuesday, March 29, in support of the DEC's (Disasters Emergency Committee) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. The concert will feature Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello, Emeli Sandé, Nile Rodgers, Chic, Manic Street Preachers, Tom Odell, Becky Hill, and Snow Patrol, among others.
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While the event is expected to generate at least $3,966,750 (£3 million) in advertising and sponsorship money, ITV will donate the earnings to the DEC fund. Antytila has taken up arms in their home country to help thwart the Russian invasion and the boys have asked if they can sing at an event next week to raise money for the cause.
On Tuesday, March 22, the band took to Facebook to ask Sheeran to join them in their fight against Russia. "Hello Ed Sheeran, greetings from Kyiv!" the band wrote. "We are musicians of the Ukrainian band Antytila – one of the most popular Ukrainian bands with a lot of fans in Ukraine and all over the world. In peacetime, our concerts gathered stadiums. The war has changed our lives and now we are fighting with weapons against the Russian occupiers. We thank you, and all the British people for their support. Believe me, we are grateful, and we will always, always remember this."
Antytila added: "Today we learned about your charity concert for Ukraine, which will take place in Birmingham. And we offer to make a live broadcast between Kyiv and Birmingham with Antytila temporary joining the gig remotely. Our band will play our music in Kyiv, a city that has not surrendered and will never surrender to the Russian occupiers. You will play in Birmingham. We are not afraid to play under the bombs. Through music, we want to show the world that Ukraine is strong and unconquered. We will fight and sing for victory in front of the whole world that supports us. So on March 29, we are ready."
"Music is a very powerful tool when it comes to showing support and solidarity," Katie Rawcliffe, Head of Entertainment Commissioning at ITV, said last week. "At ITV, we are proud and privileged to be working with Livewire Pictures, Global, M&S, and the DEC on such an important and necessary fundraising event."