Not Drowning, Underground Lovers, Pacific acts rally around George Telek

Not Drowning, Waving will be reforming to headline alongside The Underground Lovers at a fundraising concert for celebrated Papua New Guinea singer and social activist George Telek.

It is held on June 9 at Memo in St Kilda in Melbourne.

As reported in TMN, the ARIA-winning performer has a large and aggressive tumour on his bottom lip.

He was diagnosed days after his performance at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and weeks after he made a triumphant return to WOMADelaide in Adelaide.

Also performing at Memo, as announced this morning, are Taipan Tiger Girls (Ollie Olsen) and a host of Pacific music acts.

They include Wasi and Emmanuel Hakalitz (PNG), The Black Orchid Stringband (West Papua), Charles Maimarosia (Solomon Islands) and Mystic Trio (Timor Leste).

More acts will be added closer to the date.

Telek has undergone a five-hour surgery in Brisbane.

Close friend and producer David Bridie, whose Wantok Music collective is putting the concert together, told TMN his doctors are happy with the operation and Telek is in good spirits.

The surgeon and support medical staff offered their services for free.

Tests over the next few weeks will confirm if more surgery is needed.

Now Telek and his family will have to face a mountain of bills for face reconstruction, radiation therapy and speech therapy.

Wantok Music is running a campaign to raise $60,000 for Telek and his family, not only for medical debts but to cover living costs as he will not be able to make a living singing for at least six months.

The campaign is at https://chuffed.org/project/help-george-telek.

In the meantime Peter Gabriel, the British performer whose Real World label issued the Telek album Real Tam, has also sent his good vibes for the campaign.

"Very sad to hear of George's health problems," Gabriel said.

"He made a beautiful record for us with David Bridie.

“For any fans of his music, or anyone who would like to help, I am sure it will be very much appreciated.

“We are going to send something.”