Last night leftfield virtuoso Jon Hopkins headlined an epic celebration of electronic music at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. The show, which saw Hopkins supported by fellow innovators and label mates Alexis Taylor and George Fitzgerald, as well as acclaimed breakthrough producer Kelly Lee Owens, was the first night of War Child’s Safe & Sound series, which is raising funds for the charity’s Learn to Live campaign. Hopkins took advantage of the intimate affair to delve into the more meditative side of his work, treating the audience to a rare outing on the grand piano, with long-time collaborator Leo Abrahams accompanying on guitar.

The Safe & Sound series is a celebration of War Child’s Learn to Live campaign, which has been encouraging links between young people in the UK and young people in war zones to promote empathy, understanding and support. It also aims to promote the need for greater provisions in mental health and psychosocial support to help children who have lived through the horrors of conflict to process their experiences and learn to live again.

The series continues tonight with a sold-out show from South London’s jazzy man of the moment Tom Misch, before Mercury Prize-shortlisted art rockers Everything Everything finish things off in style with their specially curated lineup of Gwenno & Audiobooks.

Jon Hopkins says: “Tonight has been a really special evening. It felt great to share the stage with so many amazing artists and friends. I'm so happy we got this opportunity to help War Child continue their incredible work.”

ABOUT WAR CHILD UK War Child is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict. For more than two decades we’ve been driven by a single goal – for no child’s life to be torn apart by war. We aim to reach children as early as possible when conflict breaks out and stay to support them through their recovery – keeping them safe, helping them learn and cope with their experiences, and equipping them with skills for the future. We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution - from supporting Syrian children to access education, to rehabilitating ex-child soldiers in the Central African Republic, and promoting justice for young people in detention in Afghanistan. We also campaign for changes to policies and practices to support children in conflict, working with children and young people themselves to demand their rights. Together with our partners we deliver our vital, life-saving work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America. In 2017 alone, we reached more than half a million children.