LIVE AID 40 MONTREAL SET LIST & PHOTO ALBUM

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Thanks to Noel Butler who came up with the idea to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Noel was in attendance at Wembley Stadium July 13, 1985 to take in so many iconic performances. And he was there at Le 9e October 30, 2025 to witness a slice of Montreal music history.

Keeping with the Live Aid theme – it was easy to make MotherFood International the beneficiary. Co-founded by Jeff Baikowitz and Eric Kimmel, with Chris Emergui of BAM Strategy eventually joining as well, MotherFood has spent the last ten years on the same front lines battling world hunger.

With tickets selling out almost two full weeks before the event and with the help of sponsors – Jeff and Geraldine Hart Family Foundation, Spiegal Ryan, Sigma2, BQWM, KPMG, Nellie Foundation & Ile de France, Live Aid 40 Montreal raised over $100,000. “There’s some symmetry in 40 million fortified servings in Africa as a result of Live Aid 40 Montreal,” said Baikowitz. “We’re very appreciative.”

There were over 90 songs performed in London at at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. Our original idea was to stage this event over two nights but La Grand Salle is too popular a room to schedule back to back nights without enough lead time. So we managed to nearly hit the halfway mark of tunes instead. And yet – there were still many classics we didn’t get to. Early arrivals were treated to the actual Live Aid performances of The Style Council, The Cars, Sting, The Boomtown Rats and Madonna, among others, on the two big screens set up on either side of the stage.

Major props to all the musicians – especially our house band of Montreal music aces led by Rob MacDonald. Most knew what they’d be singing/playing weeks in advance but some decisions weren’t finalized until just before the day-long rehearsal two days prior to the event. And none of the songs had been rehearsed face to face until then.

Thanks always to Howard Bilerman. This time for reuniting The Alternative All-Stars who first graced a Montreal Stage at Montreal Calling at the Corona in 2019. And the addition of Nora Kelly – with a fantastic nod vocally and fashion-wise to Chrissie Hynde – was perfect. Much respect to Dan Boeckner and Patrick Stickles for travelling over the border to make it. And to Tim Kingsbury who always hits a memorable note.

Halifax rocker Adam Baldwin happened to have a recording session planned that week at Howard’s hotel2tango studio in Mile End so of course he showed up with his mates (which might have included Sam Roberts had Sam not had to fly to Vancouver) to cover Dire Straits (kudos to drummer Jordan Murphy for the sensational unplanned kickoff) and to back Jake Clemons who saluted two of the greatest groups in music history. And a special thanks to Alec McElcheran who added bass duties in the Baldwin band at the last minute.

It was great to see Jonas again – now fronting rockers Jonas & The Jaguar Moon – and we finally got Juno winner Steve Hill to display his guitar wizardry and stage presence at a Billy Bob Productions event. Special props to James Correa for handling the Queen set with such aplomb. James is one of Montreal’s best singers as several hundred fans might have just discovered.

On a personal level it was a treat to see Shane Murphy rip up Layla, Jasmine Bleile again going outside her comfort zone to cover a gorgeous Sade classic, Felicity Hamer bravely tackling Phil Collins (even though she badly wanted to sing Madonna) and Santo Romano channel Mick Jagger and then providing Rob MacDonald the opportunity to show off his dexterity on one of the greatest guitar singles ever. Tears flowed as Dawn Tyler Watson took a Patti Labelle moment – by way of John Lennon – and made it better. And then she got down and (bluesy) dirty.

Thanks as well, as always to Bilal Butt for the showmanship and chops (and last minute part-time MC duties) and Jason Rockman for belting out the Sabbath anthem that Ozzie would have loved and laughed at. And to Patrick Turcotte for entering very late to make sure we had at least one U2 classic covered.

The ‘kids’ were alright too. Welcome aboard Jake Kimmel (Berklee in Boston) for the blast of Neil Young and SHOBIZ514 who helped salute the all-important presence of RUN-DMC at Live Aid, with help from Annakin Slayd.

But as brilliant as the mini-sets were this night will long be remembered for the return of Frank Marino. The Montreal guitar great and founder of Mahogany Rush hadn’t appeared on a stage in about a decade. He had been forced into retirement for health reasons until late in the summer when he ended up at a backyard jam on the West Island. After hearing this I reached out to Frank (Billy Bob Productions had promoted a previous comeback concert in 2001 in support of the album Eye of the Storm – my personal Marino favourite) to find out if he was indeed healthy enough to play again. And if so, would he consider joining us for this night. Frank said he was going to attend a follow up jam and if it went well he’d strongly consider it. With the concert less than a month away, the anticipation was next level. Once the musicians discovered Frank would be on stage their excitement level was palpable. It took a couple of radio announcements over the next day or two to sell out the remaining tickets. And to top it all off – Frank’s drummer from that 2001 show at Club Soda (who would remain with Mahogany Rush until 2005) Josh Trager was beyond thrilled to be able to play behind Frank again, something he’s been inquiring about for the last few years as he hit two decades in the Sam Roberts Band.

The sight of Frank Marino, Shane Murphy, Steve Hill and Rob MacDonald on stage at the same time is something Montreal guitar enthusiasts will never forget. Nor the musicians who shared the stage for the evening’s finale. Frank’s performance was spellbinding and highly emotional. There will be more.

To all who supported by purchasing a ticket, an online auction item, donated or sponsored – thank you. Nothing from this magical night would have happened if not for you.

Photo albums by Baran Asghari & Scott Martin below set list. (Original Live Aid song performers in brackets)

REFUGEE – House Band (Rob MacDonald – guitar; Alec McElchrean – vocal & bass; Dan Legault – drums; Yves Frulla – keys (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
POWDERFINGER – Jake Kimmel – vocal & electric guitar (Neil Young)
SHOBIZ514 w/ DJ DIGITAL FIRE – spoken word tribute to RUN-DMC and rap
WALK THIS WAY – SHOBIZ514 – vocal; Annakin Slayd – vocal; Jonas – vocal; Rob MacDonald – guitar; Alec McElcheran – bass; Dan Legault – drums & DJ DIGITAL FIRE (RUN-DMC/Aerosmith – not played at Live Aid)
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN – Jonas – lead vocal; Jasmine Bliele & Felicity Hamer – harmony vocals; Dan Legault -tambourine; Alec McElcheran – acoustic guitar & backup vocals (Crosby, Stills & Nash)
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE – Bilal Butt – solo electric guitar & vocal (Elvis Costello)
ROCKET MAN – Bilal Butt – vocal with House Band & Jasmine Bleile & Felicity Hamer – backup vocals (Elton John)
AGAINST ALL ODDS – Felicity Hamer – vocal with House Band (Phil Collins)
DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME – Dawn Tyler Watson – vocal with House Band & Mark LeClerc – saxophone (George Michael & Elton John)

THE ALTERNATIVE ALL-STARS w/ Howard Bilerman – drums; Dan Boeckner – guitar & vocals; Tim Kingsbury – bass & vocals; Patrick Stickles – guitar, vocals & harmonica; Nora Kelly – vocals, tambourine & backup vocals

10. SUMMER OF ’69 – Patrick Stickles – lead vocal (Bryan Adams)

11. THE WAITING – Dan Boeckner – lead vocal (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)

12. MIDDLE OF THE ROAD – Nora Kelly – lead vocal (The Pretenders)

13. DON’T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME) – Tim Kingsbury – lead vocal (Simple Minds)

14. AND WE DANCED – Patrick Stickles & Dan Boeckner – lead vocals (The Hooters)

15. MONEY FOR NOTHING – Adam Baldwin – vocal & electric guitar; Zach MacLean – electric guitar & backup vocals; Jordan Murphy – drums; Alec McElcheran – bass (Dire Straits)

16. SAME OLD SONG > REACH OUT (I’LL BE THERE) > I CAN’T HELP MYSELF > GET READY > AIN’T TOO PROUD TO BEG > MY GIRL – Jake Clemons – vocals & saxophone; Adam Baldwin – keys & backup vocals; Zach MacLean – guitar & backup vocals; Jordan Murphy – drums; Alec McElcheran – bass & backup vocals (The Four Tops/The Temptations)

17. IS IT A CRIME – Jasmine Bleile – vocal with house band & Mark LeClerc – saxophone (Sade)

18. MISS YOU – Santo Romano – vocal & harmonica w/house band & Mark LeClerc – saxophone (Mick Jagger)

19. SULTANS OF SWING – Santo Romano – vocal w/ house band (Dire Straits)

20. SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY – Patrick Turcotte – vocal w/ Fred Bouchard – drums & backup vocals with house band

21. PARANOID – Jason Rockman – vocal w/ house band (Ozzy Osbourne & Black Sabbath)

22. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY – James Correa – vocal w/ house band (Queen)

23. RADIO GAGA > WE WILL ROCK YOU > WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS – James Correa – vocals w/ house band & Jasmine Bleile & Felicity Hamer – backup vocals (Queen)

24. CAROLINE – Steve Hill – vocal & electric guitar w/ house band (Status Quo)

25. WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN – Steve Hill – vocal & electric guitar w/ house band (The Who)

26. PINBALL WIZARD > MY GENERATION – JONAS – vocals w/ house band (The Who)

27. MADISON BLUES – Shane Murphy – vocal & acoustic slide guitar w/ house band (George Thorogood & Albert Collins)

28. LAYLA – Shane Murphy – vocal & electric guitar; Jasmine Bleile & Felicity Hamer – backup vocals w/house band (Eric Clapton)

29. IMAGINE – Dawn Tyler Watson – vocal; Jasmine Bleile & Felicity Hamer – backup vocals w/ house band (Patti Labelle)

30. WHOLE LOTTA LOVE – Dawn Tyler Watson – vocal w/ house band (Led Zeppelin)

31. ROCK ME BABY – Frank Marino – vocal & electric guitar w/ Josh Trager – drums & house band (BB King)

32. OVER THE RAINBOW – Frank Marino – solo electric (Patti Labelle)

33. AMAZING GRACE – Frank Marino – electric guitar w/ Josh Trager – drums & house band (Joan Baez)

34. HEROES – Shane Murphy – lead & 5th vocal & electric guitar; Jason Rockman – 2nd vocal; Alec McElcheran – 3rd & 4th vocal & bass; Frank Marino – electric guitar; Steve Hill – electric guitar; Rob MacDonald – electric guitar; Yves Frulla – keys; Dan Legault – drums; Josh Trager – tambourine; Dawn Tyler Watson, Jasmine Bleile, Felicity Hamer, Jonas, Santo Romano, Annakin Slayd, Bilal Butt – backup vocals (David Bowie)