The ONE Campaign has today launched a new partnership with legendary Brussels music venue Ancienne Belgique in a search for Belgium’s next Bob Dylan, an unsigned artist who has the power to move people to action through the power of the protest song.  The announcement is part of a global music-based campaign that involves artists including Arno, U2, Sting, Angelique Kidjo, Cali, Mumford and Sons & Elvis Costello, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Dominique A, Tal, Ed Sheeran, Tryo and Kenzah Farah.

The winner of the contest will get to record their song in Ancienne Belgique’s recording studio, have the video showcased on the ONE website alongside stars from around the world, and have the chance to perform at the Feeërieën festival in Brussels.  Details of the competition are at: act.one.org/survey/brussels_music_competition.

This week, ONE launched one.org/protestsongs, a unique music-based campaign designed to build pressure for action against extreme poverty and hunger in the crucial week leading up to the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.  As part of the campaign, an exclusive performance by Arno of Bob Marley’s Get Up, Stand Up, recorded at Ancienne Belgique, will be projected on the façade of the Tate Modern gallery in London.

Arno said:

“I hope a new generation will be inspired through the power of the protest song, to fight against the injustice of extreme poverty.”

Eloise Todd, Brussels director of ONE said:

“When people come together for a cause, mountains can be moved. The G8 summit next week could take a big step towards ending the injustice of extreme poverty, but only if people use their voices.  That’s why artists from all over the world are grabbing the microphone to inspire millions of people to make a noise and demand action.”

Dirk De Clippeleir, director of Ancienne Belgique said:

“Music has always been a way for artists to inspire, to protest against injustice or simply to share the feelings and emotions that motivate people into action.  AB is proud to provide a platform for artists to get their voices heard and to join The ONE Campaign in their efforts to end extreme poverty.”

Throughout history, great injustices like slavery and apartheid have been overcome when public protest became too loud for politicians to ignore. Today, with 20,000 children dying needlessly every day from poverty and hunger, ONE says it’s time to turn up the volume.  Extreme poverty can be virtually eliminated by 2030, but it won’t happen on its own, which is why ONE is calling for millions more voices to urge those in power to finish the job.

The website

The website at www.one.org/protestsongs features performances by artists from around the world including U2, Sting, Angelique Kidjo, Cali, Mumford and Sons & Elvis Costello, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Dominique A, Tal, Ed Sheeran, Tryo and Kenzah Farah.  Users can add their voice to the fight against extreme poverty, and through ONE’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, they can also:

• Watch exclusive performances of major artists around the world performing their favorite protest songs.
• Listen to protest song performances from new and original artists and access exclusive Spotify playlists.
• Learn more about the history of protest music.
• Create your own shareable artwork on Facebook and Twitter with an innovative lyric cover art creator.
• Join ONE to unlock bonus features, photo and video content, and vote for your favorite protest cover song performed by YouTube music channels all-stars.

The competition

To find out how to enter the ONE/Ancienne Belgique protest songs competition, go to http://act.one.org/survey/brussels_music_competition

About ONE

Co-founded by Bono, ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of more than three million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease… because the facts show extreme poverty has already been cut in half and can be virtually eradicated by 2030.  Learn more at ONE.org.