Elvis Costello cancels Nobel Peace Prize concert appearance

Nov 30, 2010, 13:57 GMT

Oslo - British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello will miss out on the upcoming Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, organizers said Tuesday.

Costello said in a statement he regretted being unable to attend the December 11 event due to 'family matters' but said he hoped to take part in the future.

The annual concert is held in honour of the Peace Prize winner, and is staged the day after the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

This year's laureate, Liu Xiaobo of China is serving a 11-year jail term for his part in writing the Charter '08 for democratic reform.

Since Liu and his family are unable to attend the December 10 ceremony, the prize will not be handed out, according to the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

The concert will be co-hosted by US actors Denzel Washington and Anne Hathaway.

Acts this year include British pop band Florence + the Machine, US pianist Herbie Hancock, California-born singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat, American singer Barry Manilow, AR Rahman of India, composer of the score for the Slumdog Millionaire movie, and British jazz/funk band Jamiroquai.

The Nobel Peace Prize was endowed by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite. The prize is always presented on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death in 1896.

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