The Global Citizen Festival is a one-of-a-kind charity concert that’s all about making a difference in the world. The festival brings together artists and leaders that want to deliver a message of hope in the face of poverty. Read more about it below and find out how you can use your voice to take action.
Global Citizen Festival 2017
The mission of Global Citizen Festival is to bridge the gap between the worlds of music and activism to create a movement that results in lasting change. Some of the most talented singers will be joined by leaders onstage in order to advocate on different issues. Together, they’ll take a stance to tackle on gender inequality, education, health, and poverty in disadvantaged areas.
Some of Global Citizen’s campaigns aim to distribute clean water and improve sanitary conditions to over a billion people around the world. Other campaigns focus on providing women and girls with the tools necessary to become leaders in their own communities. The accomplishment of this campaign would allow today’s victims of society to flourish through the power of education.
In order to attend the concert, you’ll have to complete a series of tasks successfully. These tasks are all about being proactive while enforcing a real change. Some of the duties assigned in the past included calling a representative and signing a petition. Download the Global Citizen app from your smartphone and start taking action to gain access to concert tickets.
In the last six years, the festival has raised more than 11 million actions towards solving some of today’s most challenging issues. These actions all contribute towards helping the United Nations goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. As a result, new policies implementing changes will affect 1 billion people across the globe. The concert also aims to raise $2 billion in funding by 2020 for the Global Partnership for Education. The mission of this international organization is to ensure each child has access to a classroom and an education.
The artists headlining this year’s concert include Stevie Wonder, Green Day, The Killers, The Lumineers, and The Chainsmokers.
Stevie Wonder
The one and only Stevie Wonder will be performing some of his signature hits onstage. The talented jazz prodigy, known for songs such as “You are the sunshine of my life” and “Superstition”, has influenced the civil rights movement throughout his career. As a result, Wonder was named as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009. He also earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.
Green Day
The legendary punk rock band will be bringing their unique sound to this year’s festival. Green Day was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 and has sold over 85 million albums. They’ve also won five Grammy Awards. The lyrics of their songs incorporate messages that bring awareness into challenges facing society today. Green Day campaigned to “Move America Beyond Oil” with Green Group last year. The organization hopes to move the country towards relying on more renewable energy resources.
The Killers
One of America’s most beloved rock bands of the 21st century will also perform at the Great Lawn. The Killers have sold over 22 million records and topped the charts with hits such as “Mr. Brightside”, “Human”, and “Somebody Told Me.” The band has a long track record of promoting awareness about different issues. In the past, they’ve driven efforts to take on growing challenges like sex trafficking, global warming, and poverty. In 2006, they released a Christmas-themed single to support The Global Fund to Fight Aids. The single raised over a million dollars and also raised money towards ending tuberculosis and malaria.
The Lumineers
The Lumineers is a popular folk-rock band hailing from the state of Colorado. Their alternative sound has been attracting listeners for much of the last decade with worldwide hits like “Ho Hey” and “Stubborn Love”. The band’s last album, “Cleopatra”, reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart. The Lumineers recently joined efforts to bring awareness into the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. In the past, the band has also played a concert where the profits went towards Planned Parenthood.
The Chainsmokers
The popular EDM and pop music duo will bring their chart-topping songs to the stage. The Chainsmokers catapulted to fame with “#Selfie” and have since seen a recent string of hits with “Something Just Like This (featuring Coldplay)”, “Paris”, and “Closer (featuring Halsey)”. Watch out for them and the special guest performances from Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, Andra Day, and Alessia Cara!
Global Citizen Fest takes place on September 23 in Central Park’s Great Lawn. The 4, 5, and 6 trains lead to the stage’s east gate entrance while the C and B trains lead to the western one. The eastern gate is located at 72nd Street and 5th Avenue on the Upper East Side. The western gate is located at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the Upper West Side. Access to the concert will start at 1pm with the festival kicking off at 4pm.
For updates and ticket information, please check out Global Citizen Festival’s website here.
