Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark support local Sussex hospitals by playing an NHS charity gig.

Thousands of music fans flocked to the Brighton Centre on Sunday 29 June for an electrifying performance by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). The synth-pop band delivered a high-octane performance to raise funds for local hospitals. 

This was no ordinary gig, it was music that matters, especially for OMD frontman Andy McClusky. He received treatment from the NHS for atrial fibrillation and was keen to play a gig that would give back to the organisation that helped him, saying: “When we were asked to do the gig, it was a no-brainer. We said YES, ABSOLUTELY! Every single penny of the profits goes back to the NHS. We love playing in Brighton, and we are doing it for a good cause. I can still run around on stage because the NHS fixed my heart.” 

Andy McClusky, OMD

The charitable organisation that arranged the event is ‘My charity’, the dedicated NHS charity for University Hospitals Sussex, raising vital funds to improve patient care and support local NHS staff.  
 
This was NHS My Music’s fifth consecutive concert playing to packed-out audiences.  By joining forces with Joy Concerts, the leading independent live music promoter across the South Coast, they can bring unforgettable live performances to the stage, all while raising vital funds for seven acute care hospitals across the region. 

Kicking off the night was singer-songwriter Andrew Cushin, he aptly warmed up the crowd and set the scene for OMD to burst onto the stage with ‘Atomic Ranch.’ Accompanied by mesmerising visuals on a screen behind them, the band delivered a high-energy performance that had the crowd cheering, clapping, and dancing from start to finish, building to a euphoric crescendo as they launched into their iconic hit ‘Enola Gay.’ 

The team from My Charity were selling merchandise and talking to fans as they arrived at the Brighton Centre, and the charity was thrilled to see so much support for their local hospitals.  

Head of Fundraising for My Charity, Giles Witcomb said: “It’s incredible to see our community come together like this. Every pound raised helps us go beyond what NHS funding alone can provide, from life-saving equipment to better resting spaces for our frontline staff. We simply couldn’t do it without this support. Hearing first-hand from patients who are attending the gig today about the amazing care they’ve received has been truly inspiring.” 

In addition, Thom Milner-Smith, Promoter at JOY. Concerts said: “We see NHS My Music as a sustainable long-term partnership. Expanding into more Sussex towns & cities allows us to build on the foundation established in Sussex while retaining the core model of delivering commercially viable shows that generate charitable impact.”  

The next NHS My Music gigs are: 

• Starsailor, De La Warr Pavilion, 3 October 2026 
• Lulu, Brighton Dome, 15 October 2026