Musician and host of the show Spectacle on the Sundance Channel

During the Toronto production phase of Beat the World, I had the opportunity to be part of the live taping for this season’s premier of Spectacle – a music and interview show hosted by Elvis Costello. Because of the guests, and the scope of their positive influence in the world – both through their music and their socially conscious ventures, I thought it was appropriate to plug the show and participants here.

Not only was it a truly inspiring show because of the tremendous talent and legacy of host Elvis Costello, his house band – the Imposters, and renown guests Bono and The Edge, but because of the intimacy of the performance, the depth of the interview and the incredible music shared. Bono literally grew up admiring Elvis Costello. The two of them traveled so many of the same circles and carried some much mutual respect, that the interview and performances had a rare level of comfort and personal insight. They talked about old times and shared dreams and, with the backing of the original Imposters, performed each others’ songs – nearly all of them hits. It was a privileged and inspiring experience for all of us lucky enough to be in the audience at the Masonic Temple that night. If you think I am just biased because we are fellow Irishmen, I suggest you tune into the show on The Sundance Channel this Wednesday, Dec 9th, and see for yourself.

To cover all the humanitarian efforts of Bono would require far more than a blog. Dubbed “the face of fusion philanthropy”

Philanthropist & Singer for U2, Bono

by the New York Times, Bono has become one of the world’s best-known philanthropic performers. From Amnesty International, Keep a Child Alive and Greenpeace through to DATA, ONE, (Product (RED) and the Chernobyl Childrens Project, Bono and U2 have used benefit concerts, songwriting, public campaigning, special visits and fund-raising to promote a range of charities and activist communities worldwide, throwing a spotlight on the work of groups who are trying to make the world a better place.You can read more about his remarkable work at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono#Humanitarian_work

Humanitarian and guitarist for U2

The Edge is currently focusing his humanitarian efforts on Music Rising, a charity that provides musical instruments to those who lost instruments in Hurricane Katrina. He also serves on the board of the Angiogenesis Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving global health by advancing angiogenesis-based medicine, diets, and lifestyle.

Costello sits of the Advisory Comittee of the Board of Directors of the Jazz Foundation of America, and has been a featured performer in their annual benefit A Great Night in Harlem since 2006. Costello has donated his time working with the Jazz Foundation of America to save the homes and the lives of America’s elderly jazz and blues musicians including musicians that survived Hurricane Katrina.

It is really inspiring to follow such amazing talents who care as much about the state of the world as they do about their own careers.