INTERNATIONAL. The Chasing Rainbows Tour, which was launched last year at Cannes with the aim of raising money and awareness for cleft charity The Smile Train, kicked off in Sydney earlier this month, when Sound Driver began a packed schedule of events to promote its attempt at creating the World Record for the highest altitude electrical rock gig on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
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Sound Driver perform live at Sydney Airport’s International Terminal – the first band ever to play at the location |
The group’s first challenge was to scale the heights of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the filming of the Australian Chasing Rainbows music video. The band set off on an early climb and were allowed an unprecedented extended stay at the top of the bridge whilst being filmed from a helicopter.
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Patrón Spirits generously hosted a Smile Train party where Sound Driver entertained by ramping up the amp |
Afterwards the band were then whisked off to Bondi Beach to set up and play a live performance for the crowds in the midday heat, in what was described as a wonderful chance to share the vision and purpose of the tour with the people of Sydney.
This gig was swiftly followed by another video shoot set up on location at Sydney Opera House. The next evening the band performed at The Goldfish, Kings Cross, where Patrón Spirits hosted a Smile Train party for 300 people.
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Chasing Rainbows in the midday sun: Sound Driver prepares to rock Bondi Beach |
The Chasing Rainbows Smile Train video was shown as a catalyst for generating funds for the auction, which took place at the end of the evening and raised an additional A$4,000 for The Smile Train.
The band said farewell to Australia by performing live in Sydney Airport’s International Terminal – the first band ever to play at this location. Sydney Airport’s Richard Ashman commented: “It was a first for us here at the airport having a live musical performance airside. We were delighted that our customers enjoyed it so much and that we could provide a platform to create additional awareness for The Smile Train.”
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Putting the fun into fund-raising: (Left) Jessica Brain of leading Australian jewellery company JAKK enters into the spirit of the occasion, while (right) Sound Driver helps inspire an A$4,000 auction donation to cleft charity The Smile Train | |
Reflecting on the four days in Sydney, Tour Manager David Spillane said: “I am delighted with the reaction to bringing the tour to Sydney. We couldn’t have chosen a better city in which to start the tour. We have received incredible support from some of the most high-profile locations in the country and none of this would have been possible without the amazing support of Patrón Spirits, Sydney Airport Retail and JAKK.
“Sydney has set an extremely high standard which we hope to match when we visit the Middle East, Asia and North America in the coming months. Most importantly, our visit raised awareness for this incredible charity and also generated additional funds which will go directly to changing the lives of many children – one smile at a time.”
The tour is supported by TFWA, MEDFA, IAADFS and APTRA. The Moodie Report is funding the tour’s website while Chief Operating Officer Bob Wilby will join the climb of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Go to www.chasingrainbowstour.com for full details of tour dates, the expedition, and to see how you can contribute to the fund-raising effort. For details on The Smile Train please visit www.SmileTrain.org
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