Live8: The who, what and where of the concerts staged to change the world

London: Hyde Park

London: Hyde Park

Britain has the pick of the artists playing Live8. They range from original Live Aid acts who have stayed at the forefront of pop music, such as Sting, Madonna, and Sir Elton John, to newer stars including Robbie Williams and Coldplay.

Sir Paul McCartney, whose microphone didn't come on until halfway through his rendition of "Let It Be" in the original Live Aid, will have another chance this year. REM will also play, as will Annie Lennox, who was too ill to participate in the original Wembley gig.

The two architects of Live Aid, Midge Ure, former frontman of Ultravox, and Sir Bob Geldof will also play. Another blast from British pop's past comes from The Cure.

Younger bands are represented by The Killers, from Las Vegas, and another US band, Scissor Sisters, as well as the darlings of the modern British alternative rock scene, Snow Patrol, Razorlight and Kaiser Chiefs. Joss Stone, the teenage singer from Devon, will make a soul contribution.

There will be one very obvious difference from the concert in 1985. Wembley couldn't be used this year, but the organisers have secured another famous (and arguably better) pop venue - Hyde Park. The royal park was the scene of the Rolling Stones famous concert in 1969 and has subsequently staged the annual Party in the Park. A capacity crowd of 150,000 should be possible.

Artists:

Mariah Carey (hosting), Coldplay, Madonna, Sting, REM, U2, Robbie Williams, Paul McCartney, Bob Geldof , Stereophonics, Elton John, Keane, Dido, The Cure, Annie Lennox, Muse, Razorlight, Scissor Sisters, Snow Patrol, Joss Stone, Velvet Revolver, The Killers

Berlin: Brandenburg Gate

Germany's venue is the Brandenburg Gate, the poweful symbol of the Cold War in Germany. It was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia and completed in 1791. The gate was modelled on the ceremonial entrance to the Acropolis and topped with a copper statue of the goddess of Peace - although the Nazi regime was to adopt the gate as a symbol of the Third Reich.

Its closing in August 1961, when East German troops began building the Berlin Wall, came to represent the division of the German people. Its reopening in December 1989, days after revellers tore down sections of the Berlin wall, equally represented the end of hostility and the rebirth of the united Germany. The gate, which was restored in 2002, is a very powerful icon for Germans and attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers each year during new year celebrations.

Top of the bill will be the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, who toured with his long-awaited album Smile last year.

Artists:

Brian Wilson, a-ha, Crosby Stills & Nash, Lauryn Hill, Bap, Die Toten Hosen, Peter Maffay

Paris: Eiffel Tower

The organisers could not have chosen a more iconic building for the Paris venue for Live8. The tower, images of which were beamed around the world as the globe celebrated the new millennium has been visited by more than 216 million people since it was completed in 1889.

Britain's Craig David will headline along with Jamiroquai. But the French pop music scene will be represented by the enduringly popular crooner Johnny Halliday.

Now aged 62, Halliday has been performing since the late 1960s, but this may well be biggest show of his career. The nation's links to Africa will be highlighted in the performance of the Senegalese drummer and singer Youssou N'Dour, who collaborated with Neneh Cherry on the song "7 Seconds". And the rich French Afro-Caribbean scene will be represented by Manu Chao, the singer and guitarist who is one of the driving forces in the French-Spanish, ethno-punk band Mano Negra.

Artists:

Craig David, Jamiroquai, Johnny Halliday, Placebo, Youssou N'Dour, Andrea Bocelli, Calo Gero, Kyo, Yannick Noah, Axelle Red

Rome: Circus Maximus

The concert is to be staged at the Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing stadium in the centre of Rome dating back to the 6th century BC.

It is said to have once had 300,000 seats, although today's capacity is lower.

The concert crowd will be treated to a performance by Duran Duran, the band best known to British audiences among the line-up. Some of Italy's best-known stars have agreed to perform.

Vasco Rossi, whose aggressive rock sound has won over Italian audiences since the mid-eighties, is due to perform, as is the seventies veteran Zucchero, who is massive in Italy. The singer, whose real name is Adelmo Fornaciari, but has been using the nickname Zucchero, which means Sugar, since he was a child.

Artists:

Duran Duran, Faith Hill, Vasco Rossi, Zucchero, Irene Grandi, Jovanotti, Tim McGraw, Nek, Laura Pausini

Philadelphia: Museum of Art

The city that hosted the American side of Live Aid in 1985 will once again provide the stage for a vast line-up of acts. Will Smith , the American star of Men in Black, is to compere the show, which will be held at the Museum of Art, which houses 300,000 works of art but also has a concert venue.

The acts who have already agreed to play span the decades, from performers dating back to the 1970s to newly formed bands. The headlining acts will include Stevie Wonder, the soft rockers Bon Jovi and the rapper from Queen's, 50 Cent, who has taken the music world by storm after being signed by Eminem in 2002.

The American indy rockers Maroon 5 have also said that they will take part.

Last time Phil Collins performed in Philadelphia after rocking up a storm at Wembley, taking the Concorde. That option is, of course, no longer available

Artists:

Will Smith (hosting), Kaiser Chiefs, Bon Jovi, P Diddy, Stevie Wonder, 50 Cent, Maroon 5, Sarah McLachlan, Rob Thomas, Keith Urban, Jay Z