Eden goes African for Live 8 gigs

Eden has hosted rock concerts for four years

The Eden Project is taking part in the international Live 8 concerts being held across the globe next month.

Managers at the environmental attraction are talking to Live 8 and Peter Gabriel, of world music body Womad, about a concert on 2 July.

It follows criticism that not enough black African musicians are taking part in the main Live 8 gigs.

The line-up for "Africa Calling" at Eden, which has hosted gigs for four years, will be confirmed on Wednesday.

Eden founder Tim Smit, who made his fortune in the record business, has been working to put the concert together following criticism from Blur frontman Damon Albarn and others that Live 8 is too dominated by white artists.

I would not say it's a response to the criticism, more an enhancement of the event David Rowe

Eden press officer David Rowe said: "I would not say it's a response to the criticism, more an enhancement of the event."

Eden has a capacity of 5,000 people in the landscaped former china clay quarry.

It is already hosting a series of live concerts this year from top acts such as Keane and Basement Jaxx.

Mr Rowe said: "For a fairly young organisation it is a quite a coup, but Eden is a perfect venue for this."