Race Against Time
Toronto will definitely host the Canadian leg of the Live8 show. The question now is where.
Concert creator Bob Geldof has confirmed the G.T.A. has been added to the list of cities staging one of the worldwide shows, along with Tokyo and Johannesburg.
The Nobel Prize winning activist and musician insists the official announcement will be made on Friday.
With that mystery solved, the only real remaining concerns about the show are the where and the who.
The concerts to forgive poor countries their debt and end poverty are scheduled to take place at sites around the world on July 2nd. And time is running out to set everything up.
Canada's contribution was originally supposed to be held in Ottawa, but that city was forced to pull out over crowd control concerns.
That left Toronto, a destination that’s now been all but confirmed by Geldof.
A decision on possibly using either the Amphitheatre or Downsview Park as a location for the big show was supposed to come Thursday.
But now everyone involved is pulling back. "I think we're very close to an announcement," admits Philip Maher of World Vision, one of the charity groups involved in the show. But so far, no one’s heard from promoter Michael Cohl, and everything’s on hold until they do.
"Until we get official word - until he tells us what's going on for sure, because he's the one organizing the talent, he's the one organizing the venue," Maher cautions. "There's no question that ... an announcement is imminent. But when exactly, we just don't know at this point."
Sneak peaks at the line-up have already been floated, with one spokesperson calling it “spectacular”.
Among those rumoured to hit the stage: the Barenaked Ladies, Jann Arden and Our Lady Peace. Reps for Billy Talent have already confirmed the group has been invited and will be there – wherever ‘there’ is.
Cohl’s involvement has also led to the very real possibility that the Rolling Stones could top the bill, since they’ll be in town rehearsing for their world tour.
Downsview may be the logical choice for the concert but not the logistical one. The park is scheduled to hold Canada Day celebrations the day before the world show, and there's no guarantee the venue would be ready on time.
Live 8 Concert Line-up
London
(Hyde Park)
Pink Floyd
Annie Lennox
Bob Geldof
Coldplay
The Cure
Dido
Elton John
Joss Stone
Keane
The Killers
Madonna
Mariah Carey
Ms. Dynamite
Muse
Paul McCartney
Razorlight
REM
Robbie Williams
Scissor Sisters
Snoop Dogg
Snow Patrol
Stereophonics
Sting
U2
Velvet Revolver
Paris
(Palais des Versailles)
Andrea Bocelli
Axelle Red
Calo Gero
Craig David
Jamiroquai
Johnny Hallyday
Kyo
Manu Chao
Placebo
Renaud
Youssou N'Dour
Yannick Noah
Berlin
(Brandenburg Gate)
A-ha
Bap
Brian Wilson
Crosby Stills and Nash
Die Toten Hosen
Lauryn Hill
Peter Maffay
Rome
(Circus Maximus)
Faith Hill
Irene Grandi
Jovanotti
Laura Pausini
Nek
Tim McGraw
Vasco Rossi
Zucchero
Philadelphia
(Museum of Art)
Will Smith
50 Cent
Bon Jovi
Dave Matthews Band
Jay-Z
Kaiser Chiefs
Keith Urban
Maroon 5
P Diddy
Rob Thomas
Sarah McLachlan
Stevie Wonder
COLDPLAY IT AGAIN
Coldplay slammed the competi tion this week, rushing Billboard's Top 200 Albums Charts with "X&Y," the Brit-pop band's latest disc.
Chris Martin and company's third studio release sold 737,300 copies in its first week to capture the No. 1 slot, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Despite some critics harping about the group being "grim" and "insufferable," the sweet anthem album also soared to No. 1 in 21 other countries.
"X&Y" marks many achievements: It's the first career chart-topper for the group, the big gest rock opening of the year and the second- hottest U.S. debut, following 50 Cent's "The Massacre."
In Britain, "X&Y" made the second strongest debut ever in the country - topped only by Oasis' 1997 album "Be Here Now."
Coldplay is due to open a two-month North American tour on Aug. 2 in Toronto that will arrive in New York in September.
Other big debuts include the pop-rap fusion of the Black Eyed Peas' "Monkey Business" (No. 2), the postmodern garage rock of the White Stripes' "Get Behind Me Satan" (No. 3) and the Latin rock of Shakira's "Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1" (No. 4). All of them marked first-week career highs for the artists.
Colombia-born Shakira is a history-making story all her own. "Fijacion" sold 157,000 copies, making it the biggest debut for a Spanish-language release in the SoundScan era. Sales were boosted by the sensual crossover single "La Tortura," which launched the CD to the top of the charts in nine countries.
In November, Shakira plans to double the fun, releasing an English-language album, "Oral Fixation, Vol. 2."