It was announced earlier this year that Coldplay (pictured above) would be the headline act at the Paralympic Closing Ceremony at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and that bandstands nationwide, including the Olympic Park Bandstand, will showcase musicians of all kinds performing their own unique renditions of the epic song at the same time.

It is a collective moment that London 2012 will use to mark the end of the Olympics and Paralympics as well as the fantastic summer of sport and culture created by the Games.

The initiative comes as part of Bandstand Marathon – the official finale event of the London 2012 Festival.

Coldplay's lead vocalist Chris Martin said his band are delighted to be involved and that the massive hit, the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, will play such a prominent part in the celebrations.

The song is also pariticularly appropriate as an anthem for the Paralympics.

The song's Spanish title, "Viva la Vida", which translates into English as "Long Live Life" is taken from a painting by 20th century Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, who overcame polio and a broken spine to carve out a brilliant career.

"It's a great honour for us to be part of the celebrations for the Paralympic Games," said Martin.

"It should be a great moment when the bandstands of Great Britain strike up in unison."

As part of Bandstand Marathon, hundreds of outdoor community concerts will take place simultaneously throughout the UK from 1pm to 5pm.

Bandstand Marathon's oldest singer, aged 91, will take to the stage in Scotland's Bellfield Park in Inverness, while Regent's Park in London will celebrate traditional and contemporary Jewish music.

Elsewhere in England, Stourbridge will play host to a near 100-piece ukulele band and in Chester, a sign-language choir will entertain the crowds.


An Elvis impersonator will bring rock n' roll to Victoria Park, Barry, South Wales while visitors to Broomfield Park, Palmer's Green, London will enjoy the Afro-Caribbean beats of The Harambe Drummers.

"The spectacular summer has shown off the strengths of our country in style and it hasn't ended yet," said Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

"It continues with the Bandstand Marathon and everyone should come out to enjoy the musical events at their local bandstand.

"2012 has been the year for all our communities to come together, from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the Olympic Torch Relay and of course the Games themselves, reinforcing our shared identity and celebrating our great country."

Mayor of London Boris Johnson also gave the initiative his endorsement.

"Millions of people across the capital have already enjoyed an astonishing variety of music, drama, and spectacle from around the world and the Bandstand Marathon renditions of Coldplay's instantly-recognisable megahit Viva la Vida will be fittingly upbeat coda to the London 2012 celebrations," he said.

"We want as many Londoners as possible to take part and after the Games are over I hope many more will be encouraged to bring the sound of beautiful music to their local communities."

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