| Tibetan Freedom Concert | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Alternative rock, rap, punk rock |
| Dates | April, May, June, July, August, September |
| Location(s) | San Francisco (1996), New York City (1997), Washington D.C. (1998), Amsterdam, (East Troy) Wisconsin, Sydney, Tokyo (1999), Tokyo (2001), Taipei (2003) Vienna and Geneva (2012). |
| Years active | 1996–1999; 2001; 2003; 2012 |
Tibetan Freedom Concert is the name given to a series of socio-political music festivals held in North America, Europe and Asia from 1996 onwards to support the cause of Tibetan independence. The concerts were originally organized by the Beastie Boys and the Milarepa Fund. The idea for a Live Aid-style concert for Tibet was conceived by members of the group during the 1994 Lollapalooza Tour.
Organized in 1996, the first concert was held in June in San Francisco and featured acts such as The Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Björk, Smashing Pumpkins, Cibo Matto, Rage Against the Machine, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker. It drew 100,000 people and raised over $800,000 for Tibetan and social justice causes.[1] Additional concerts were held until 2003, generating public awareness about the Tibetan independence movement, particularly amongst young people. The concerts helped spur the growth of Students for a Free Tibet worldwide.