Lavigne, McLachlan Hold Tsunami Benefit

01/31/2005 8:13 AM, AP


Concert-goers and performers alike sang and danced as Canadian artists such as Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLachlan took the stage for a tsunami relief fundraiser.

A capacity crowd of 18,000 happy revelers packed Vancouver's GM Place Saturday night for a sold-out show, featuring Lavigne, McLachlan, Delerium, Chantal Kreviazuk , Raine Maida and Sum 41 and the Barenaked Ladies .

The show raised almost $3 million.

"This is an incredible, incredible cause," said CBC-TV comedian Rick Mercer. "We've shown the world how generous Canadians are."

Mercer hosted the event aimed at helping relief efforts in south Asia where the giant waves — triggered by a massive earthquake on Dec. 26 — claimed more than 178,000 lives in 11 countries.

Proceeds from the show will go to Oxfam, Care Canada, Doctors Without Borders and War Child.

"The artists were really given the opportunity to contribute the ideas for where the money would go," Kreviazuk told The Canadian Press.