Pharrell And Al Gore Are Bringing Live Earth Back To Australia In 2015

January 22, 2015

Former US vice-president Al Gore has confirmed that Live Earth, the huge global music event used as a call to action on climate change, will be held again in 2015, taking place across seven continents, including Australia.

Sydney will host Australia’s 2015 Live Earth event on 18th June, with other concerts held simultaneously in Paris, New York, China, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Antarctica.

The ABC reports Mr Gore has told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, “The purpose is to have a billion voices with one message, to demand climate action now.”

Musician Pharrell Williams, perhaps now best known for his 2014 hit single Happy, will be Live Earth’s musical director. Pharrell is remaining tight-lipped on the official lineup, but has promised “there are some interesting surprises coming up… we are literally going to have humanity harmonised all at once”.

Live Earth 2015 will be organised by US producer Kevin Wall, who led the first Live Earth in 2007, which also made its way to Sydney. That year around 45,000 punters witnessed a day of music from acts such as Paul Kelly, Eskimo Joe, Missy Higgins, Wolfmother, Jack Johnson, Crowded House, Jimmy Barnes and Sneaky Sound System, at what was then known as Sydney Football Stadium.

Internationally, the 2007 event had over 150 acts, and saw sets from the likes of The Police, Linkin Park, UB40, Eason Chan, Shakira, Crowded House, the Black Eyed Peas, Genesis and Madonna.

According to Wall, this year’s events “will run four to six hours” in major stadiums. Al Gore is reportedly predicted a global TV, radio and online audience of two billion for the event, which hopes to spur lawmakers to sign the UN climate pact in Paris this December.

“This is the year of climate,” Mr Gore said. “The Paris negotiation is crucial. If we’re to ensure success, we need the political will.”