There are two concerts for the people of Venezuela this weekend–and this is very weird.

The situation for the people in Venezuela is dire. The policies of president Nicolas Maduro have driven the country’s economy into the ground, creating shortages of food and medicine and the necessities of life. There have been riots and protests and millions of people flooding over the borders of neighbouring countries. And to make matters worse, Maduro has refused to allow shipments of foreign humanitarian aid into the country.

Richard Branson is behind Venezuela Live Aid, a two day event this weekend in the border city of Cucuta designed to convince Maduro to allow the foreign goods to come in. Up to 300,000 people are expected to attend on the Colombian side of the border. The lineup includes Latin pop stars like Manu Chao, Mana, Alejandro Sanz, and Juan Luis Guerra.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, on the other side of the river, on the Venezuelan side of Cucuta, Maduro will hold a competing concert called Hands Off Venezuela. No crowd estimates are available.

Meanwhile, Pink Floyd man Rogers Waters has weighed in.

More here and here.