Love and Theft Donating ‘Love Wins’ Song Proceeds to Manchester Victims
In the aftermath of the terrorist attack that killed 22 concertgoers outside of an Ariana Grande show in Manchester, England, on Monday night (May 22), country duo Love and Theft have announced plans to help those affected by the incident. Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson will be donating the proceeds from sales of their song "Love Wins" throughout the next month to the victims and their families.
In a Facebook post, which viewers can see above, Love and Theft expressed their sympathies for those affected by the attack and their families. Gunderson and Barker Liles knew that they wanted to give back in some way, they explain, "[and] music is the best way we know how.”
"Our hearts go out to those affected by the Manchester tragedy,” Love and Theft write.
Love and Theft's announcement of their plans to donate to the Manchester victims is accompanied by an acoustic performance of "Love Wins." Featuring lyrics such as "When someone’s running out of places they can run / Ashamed of their mistakes and things they’ve done / Someone opens up a door with open arms / Says, 'Come on in' / Love wins,” the song is an incredibly appropriate message for the days following such a tragedy.
"Love Wins" is available for purchase on iTunes.
Just minutes after Grande’s concert at Manchester Arena concluded on Monday night, a bomb of some sort was detonated outside of the venue, killing 22 people and injuring 59 people (so far). The person who set off the device, 22-year-old Salman Abedi, died in the attack, but Greater Manchester Police arrested an unnamed 23-year-old man in South Manchester in connection with the incident on Tuesday (May 23), and four others on Wednesday (May 24); Reuters reports that Abedi's father and a brother were arrested in Tripoli, Lybia, as well. Extremist terrorist group ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack, issuing a statement on its social media channels.
A number of country artists have shared condolences to those affected by the incident in Manchester, and voiced their feelings about such an attack occurring outside of a concert venue; others have responded to some of the insensitive rhetoric surrounding the incident. Brent Cobb, who was scheduled to play in Manchester on Tuesday night, performed as planned, and artists who have upcoming dates in the area on their calendars are pledging to do the same.
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