Prince will play a surprise Mother’s Day concert at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena as part of his “Rally 4 Peace” event, the singer announced Tuesday. In addition to the show, the artist will debut a new single, which condemns police brutality and pleads for gun control.
Now that the citywide curfew has been lifted, in an effort to unify Baltimore following weeks of protests and sometimes all-out riots after the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody, the “Little Red Corvette” singer hopes to begin the “healing.”
“As a symbolic message of our shared humanity and love for one another, attendees are invited to wear something gray in tribute to all those recently lost in the violence,” a concert announcement reads.
According to Rolling Stone, the statement also noted:
In a spirit of healing, the event is meant to be a catalyst for pause and reflection following the outpouring of violence that has gripped Baltimore and areas throughout the U.S….As a symbolic message of our shared humanity and love for one another, attendees are invited to wear something gray in tribute to all those recently lost in the violence.
The Baltimore Sun reports Prince’s band 3rd Eye Girl will accompany him on stage, and he is promising “several industry superstars” will also be in attendance for the event.
The “Rally 4 Peace” show comes days after the artist released lyrics to a new single, which is titled “Baltimore.”
The lyrics for “Baltimore” read:
NOBODY GOT IN NOBODY’S WAY
SO EYE GUESS U COULD SAY
IT WAS A GOOD DAY
AT LEAST A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE DAY IN BALTIMORE
DOES ANYBODY HEAR US PRAY?
4 MICHAEL BROWN OR FREDDIE GRAY PEACE IS MORE THAN THE ABSENCE OF WAR
ABSENCE OF WAR
R WE GONNA C ANOTHER BLOODY DAY?
WE’RE TIRED OF CRYIN’ & PEOPLE DYIN’
LET’S TAKE ALL THE GUNS AWAY
ABSENCE OF WAR- U AND ME
MAYBE WE CAN FINALLY SAY
ENUFF IS ENUFF IT’S TIME 4 LOVE
IT’S TIME 2 HEAR,
IT’S TIME 2 HEAR
THE GUITAR PLAY! (guitar solo)
Tickets for the Rally 4 Peace event will go on sale Wednesday, May 6 at 5 p.m. EST at Live Nation.