No Doubt, Usher, My Morning Jacket Headlining Global Citizen Earth Day Event
UPDATE: YouTube will livestream Saturday’s Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day concert on the Global Citizen YouTube channel. YouTube guest hosts Matthew Santoro (MatthewSantoro) and Yousef Erakat (FouseyTUBE) will host the pre-show and post-show and will make onstage appearances throughout the event.
With the United Nations Climate Change Conference set to begin in Paris later this year, 2015 could mark a pivotal year for environmental policy change. To bring attention to the need for climate change as well as help end extreme poverty, the Global Poverty Project and the Earth Day Network have teamed up for an all-star event called Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day scheduled for April 18th at Washington, D.C.’s National Mall. No Doubt, Usher, My Morning Jacket, Fall Out Boy, Mary J. Blige and Train have been announced as headliners for the free event.
The Global Citizen event, which takes place four days before Earth Day, also coincides with the spring meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund. In addition to the artists involved, the Global Citizen event will feature appearances by world leaders to discuss key environmental issues. Will.i.am and journalist Soledad O’Brien will host the event, with Oscar winner Common and Nigerian singer-songwriter D’banj also scheduled to appear.
“Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day will be a moment for every one of us to call for serious action to end extreme poverty and solve climate change,” festival founder Hugh Evans tells Rolling Stone. “Our goal with the event is to see major commitments from the World Bank, United States, South Korea, Canada, Ireland, France, Denmark and more to ensure that access to food, education and sanitation is available to all.
“We are extremely excited to have No Doubt join us again, and are thankful for the special role that Usher has played in helping us bring together this extraordinary group of artists who all share our passion for making positive change a reality,” he added.
No Doubt also played at the 2014 Global Citizen Festival at New York’s Central Park last September. That performance featured Sting making a surprise appearance onstage with Gwen Stefani and company along with sets by Carrie Underwood, fun., the Roots, Tiesto and the main headliner Jay Z, who was joined by Beyoncé.
“Last year, we rocked with 60,000 global citizens in Central Park, all committed to ending extreme poverty,” No Doubt said in a statement. “We now help bring this movement to the nation’s capital, this time with a focus on climate change and its inexorable effect on the world’s poor. We owe it to our children to protect our planet and their futures.”
Added Usher: “Music has long had the ability to motivate generations and inspire movements. I’m proud to lend my voice to the call to end extreme poverty, solve climate change, and educate our youth on such a historic stage.”
“We are honored and humbled to be a part of this crucially important event,” said Fall Out Boy. “Taking direct action to make the world a better place – to eradicate extreme poverty and find a solution for climate change – is essential not only for us but for our kids and all future generations. If our participation and music can bring attention to these issues then we’re doing our job right. We must stand together to make lasting change.”