U2 > News > ‘A Toast to Freedom’.

Strike one off my `bucket list!` On Sunday night, my husband and I attended the U2 concert in Winnipeg – the first Canadian stop on their 360 tour. The tickets were a Christmas presents from our kids. The gift was not only anticipated for these past five months, but the memories will live on for a very long time. Two daughters also attended the concert with their friends. Sharing the excitement with them added to the experience.

Bono began the concert by addressing the favorite topic of Winnipeggers – the weather!

People have been saying it’s cold? No, not at all!’ I don’t know what they’re talking about. You’re Canadian…we’re Irish… and we have some real men in the band, you know who you are…

Bono is one of the greats in the world of social conscious musicians. His poet`s soul cries at the injustices and violence present in the world. His voice incarnates the words into soaring, heart-wrenching wails of anger, grief and lament. The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr instrumentally layer each song with colour, depth, and emotion. In `Sunday, Bloody Sunday`, guitar and drums echo the haunting sounds of stomping feet and gun fire. In the concert video the story moved from the streets of Ireland to the fight for freedom in Libya, showing the heart-wrenching reality of civil war.

Half-way during the concert on Sunday, Bono spoke in tribute to Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy leader of Burma.

Aung San Suu Kyi  is to Asia what Nelson Mandela is to Africa. She has lived without her freedom in Burma for most of the last twenty years, under house arrest.  Her crime was to believe the election result that made her leader of that country.  But she’s out  now and that is a very special thing for this band and for our audience who  have campaigned for her release for the past ten years or more. And Amnesty International  who campaigned for twenty years.

The band then played `Walk On.` As the song finished, Bono raised a pint of Guinness to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Amnesty International and led 50,000 in singing Happy Birthday. This was followed by a surprise video message from Aung San Suu Kyi herself.

What an honor it was to share this special moment with Bono and the lads in the Peg. I`ll happily raise a glass of Guinness to them any time. Sláinte!