Legendary music promoter Michael Chugg has called in a few big favours to bring some of the hottest acts in the country together for a free concert to cheer up the people of Lismore following devastating floods.
Mr Chugg said he was shocked at the damage he saw in the town.
"We flew up here, and were horrified by the mess here in Lismore," he said. "We were taken by the resilience of the general public here.
"You don't really realise watching the news, but when you arrive here and you see what's happened, its just mind blowing. We were very determined to do it."
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Organisers said the concert was about giving back to the people of the region, lifting spirits and thanking services such as the ADF for the hard work and effort during the floods, rather than being a fundraiser.
"We've done a lot of charity - Soundaid... Waveaid. " Mr Chugg said. "It wasn't about a charity, its about giving the people of Lismore something to do".
A powerhouse team - Rick Sleeman from Sports Marketing Australia and Mark Pope from Helium Records - will join Mr Chugg and Lismore City Council to stage One From the Heart on May 15 at Lismore Showground.
Headlining the concert will be homegrown act Grinspoon, who will be joined by "the hottest act in the country right now", Lime Cordiale, as well as Jon Stevens, Sheppard, Daryl Braithwaite, Paul and Dan Kelly, Darlinghurst and the Buckleys.
Grinspoon got their big break on Triple J's Unearthed in 1995 while studying at Lismore's Southern Cross University.
They hold a special place in the hearts of many Lismore locals who rememer the good old days, watching the young Grinners play at venues such as the Gollan Hotel.
Their song Sickfest gained them national exposure, but they went on to have huge hits with Chemical Heart, Hard Act to Follow and Better off Alone.
It will be their first gig in the town since 2017, when Grinspoon played a sold out concert at Lismore City Hall during their Guide to Better Living tour.
Up to 10,000 free tickets are available for people living within the impacted postcodes, and 1000 more paid tickets for those outside the areas.
Organisers are also working on a VIP grandstand that will go on sale in the future.
Mr Chugg said usually a concert of this size would cost upwards of $600,000 to put on, and funding from State and Federal governments was helping to foot the bill, but it was the generosity of the bands, he said made it happen.
"It's an incredible lineup of talent. To get those bands doing it for basically nothing, just the cost of getting here, is really rewarding and shows how generous the Australian music industry can be.
"We're just really grateful to have the chance to do it."
And for an industry still recovering from the blow of the pandemic, it really is something.
So keen are Grinspoon to be involved, on the Saturday night straight after a gig in Perth they will jump on a plane to Brisbane before getting on a bus to Lismore in time for the gig on Sunday.
Mr Chugg said "it wasn't a hard thing to do" to get bands on board.
He said it was also "incredible" to get Paul Kelly on the bill.
"He's actually written song called the Northern Rivers, which he'll, I'm sure, premiere in the next couple of weeks," Mr Chugg said.
He said "it should be a fun day, it's going to be an amazing day".
"It's very exciting. We're really, really proud to be involved."
Mayor Steve Krieg said the people of Lismore needed something to look forward to.
He said Anzac Day commemorations showed that people just wanted to get out and be around others.
"Cleaning up after a flood is a very isolating event, you feel like you're alone a lot of the time. The opportunity to come together as a community on the 15th May ... really a thank you for the people of Lismore - for everything they've had to put up with and everything they have to put up with in the future as well," Cr Krieg said.
"It gives something to look forward to and just day to take your mind off the grind that we're living through at the moment.
"The idea is to get many people from Lismore area and the region at the showground for that day just to take a bit of a load to not think about rain and floodwater for just a day," Cr Krieg said.
How to get tickets
Each family within the most affected areas - postcodes 2471, 2472 and 2480 - will be able to order four tickets to the show now from Moshtix.
Ticket holders must be from the impacted postcodes and may be asked to show proof of residency.
There will also be an additional 1000 tickets available to purchase for everyone outside the nominated postcodes from 8.00am on Saturday, April 30 from Moshtix.
Free shuttle bus- Avoid the fuss, take the bus
There will be no parking on site at the Lismore Showgrounds for the One from the Heart Concert to be held on Sunday, May 15. Buses will be continually running from the following bus stops from 11.30am until 10.30pm.
Bus Pick up points will be:
- Molesworth Street bus bay, park in Clyde Campbell Carpark
- Transit Centre, park in Kirklands Carpark
- Lismore Railway Station, Union Street, South Lismore, park in Station's Carpark.
