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Ariana Grande returns to Manchester for massive charity concert

Ariana Grande has returned to Manchester for the One Love Manchester charity concert.

Ariana Grande has returned to Manchester for the One Love Manchester charity concert. Photo: Getty

Some 60,000 fans flocked to the Ariana Grande-organised One Love Manchester concert Monday morning (AEST), less than two weeks after the deadly bombing attack in the city.

Grande performed with big names including Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Take That, Robbie Williams and Coldplay at the charity event that was attended by many of the victims of the May 22 bombing.

The proceeds of the concert will be donated to a fund set up to assist the victims of the attack.

The show opened with a minute’s silence and a performance by Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Suns.

Mumford urged the crowd to “not be afraid”.

Grande’s manager, Scooter Braun, thanked the crowd for attending and paid tribute to the Manchester Arena victims before introducing the singer to deafening cheers.

Grande, wearing a baggy ‘One Love Manchester’ sweat shirt and a pair of sweat pants, invited students from Manchester’s Parrs Wood High School to perform with her on stage.

Some of the students were at her concert on 22 May.

Grande later teamed up with Cyrus to deliver an emotional rendition of the Crowded House classic Don’t Dream It’s Over.

Ariana at one point paused  to talk about meeting the victims and their families, including the mother of 15-year-old Olivia Campbell who died in the bombing.

“As soon as I met her I started crying, and gave her a big hug,” Grande said.

“And she said that I should stop crying, because Olivia wouldn’t have wanted me to cry. Then she told me that Olivia would have wanted to hear the hits.

“So, that being said, we had a totally different show planned and we had a rehearsal yesterday and we changed everything. And this evening has been so light and so filled with fun and love and bright energy, and I want to thank you for that.”

Justin Bieber addressed the crowd after his set, saying: “God is good in the midst of the darkness. God is good in the midst of the evil. No matter what is happening in the world, God is in the midst and he loves you, he is here for you”.

“I just want to take this moment to honour the people that were lost. We love you so much. To the families, we love you so much.”

A clearly emotional Bieber asked the crowd to raise their hands and shout “we love you” to the victims.

“It’s quite emotional for us because it was quite a terrifying ordeal,” Nicola Brownbill, who was at the original concert with her daughter, told BBC.

“But we’re going to make the most of it and it’s a lovely atmosphere here today.”

Mrs Brownbill and daughter Hannah, 13, said they felt they had to attend to “support the people who weren’t so lucky as us”.

Mrs Brownbill said: “It was a really difficult decision, even as late as this morning, after last night’s event [in London]. We were questioning ourselves.

“But you’ve got to carry on. That’s what life is. I had more reservations than my daughter – I feel that I can’t stop her from living the life she wants to live.”

Around 14,000 attendees from Grande’s Manchester Arena concert were at Old Trafford cricket ground for the event.

Ariana Grande

An estimated 60,000 people attended the One Manchester Concert. Photo: BBC

Police said additional security was in place, with armed officers stationed around the ground.

There were concerns the concert would be cancelled after the deadly London Bridge terror attack on Sunday killed seven people and injured 48 others.

Grande’s management answered doubts on Twitter, just hours before the concert.
“All artists involved have been unwavering in their support this morning and are determined to carry on with the show. We ask the strong city of Manchester and the world to join us in making the statement that hatred and fear will never win,” Braun said.
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