25 Feb 2009

Melbourne, Sydney concerts for bushfire communities

5:19 am on 25 February 2009

Australian and international musicians will stage simultaneous concerts in Melbourne and Sydney to raise funds for communities affected by Victoria's bushfires.

Tim and Neil Finn will perform as Split Enz in Melbourne, while Neil's son, Liam, will play solo at the same gig.

Coldplay and the Kings of Leon will head the Sound Relief concerts on 14 March.

Organiser Michael Gudinski says Environment Minister Peter Garrett has agreed to reunite with Midnight Oil.

The official death toll from the bushfires, which began on 7 February, stands at 210.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Country Fire Authority is worried that embers from a fire close to Daylesford, near Melbourne, will flare up.

The 2,800-hectare fire has claimed farm sheds and several pine plantations.

The blaze is not at present posing a threat to nearby communities, but fire incident controller Brad Mahoney says it is flaring up through about 800 hectares of forest.

Mr Mahoney says aircraft are being used to attack the spot fires, but a lot of work still remains to be done.

Police are investigating whether the bushfire was deliberately lit.