Who's who on stage: from Berlin to Barrie

MAKUHARI MESSE ARENA, CHIBA, TOKYO

2pm-10pm local time (7am to 3pm BST)

This has been a struggle in a country with no tradition of such fundraising events and little sense of global poverty. But the line-up is remarkable, led by Bjork, who has a huge following in Japan, and Dreams Come True. Japan's event will be the first in the global series, with the opening act on stage while most British concert-goers are still in bed. It will also be the most intimate - an online lottery was used to select just 10,000 fans.

MARY FITZGERALD SQUARE, NEWTOWN, JOHANNESBURG

12pm-5.30pm local time

(1pm to 6.30pm BST)

Nelson Mandela is rumoured to be making an appearance. Poor health prevented him flying to Scotland for the G8 Summit. The line-up of the only concert in Africa includes the reggae king Lucky Dube, the kwaito star Zola and bands such as Bayete and the Mahotella Queens with only one band, Senegal's Orchestre Boabab, and the diva Oumou Sangare from Mali representing the rest of the continent.

TIERGARTEN, BERLIN

2pm to 8pm local time

(1pm to 7pm BST)

The punk veterans Die Toten Hosen will open the show, which features more than 20 bands playing 15-minute slots. The headline act of the concert, along the Strasse des 17 Juni, is Herbert Gronemeyer, one of the most enduring rock acts in Germany, just before 8pm. Other acts include Green Day, Audioslave, Roxy Music and the former Beach Boy Brian Wilson. The event will be compered by the news presenter Anne Will. An audience of 100,000 is expected.

CIRCUS MAXIMUS,

ROME

3pm-11pm local time

(2pm to 10pm BST)

Admission is free and up to a million are expected for the biggest event in Italian musical history (the circus holds 250,000). The main worry is the heat: a system is in place to hose down the audience during the hottest hours. The cream of Italian pop will be there, including Laura Pausini, the rapper Jovanotti and, a popular late addition, Fiorella Mannoia. The only two international acts are Duran Duran and the country singer Faith Hill.

VERSAILLES,

PARIS

4pm-10pm local time (3pm to 9pm BST)

Word that Johnny Hallyday, the "French Elvis", was topping the bill is now in doubt. The Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour (also appearing in London and Cornwall) will be a huge draw for an estimated 200,000 crowd. The tennis-pro-turned-rock-star Yannick Noah andFaudel Prince of Rai promise disco music to get all generations dancing. Le Parisien newspaper has criticised French performers for lack of enthusiasm.

RED SQUARE,

MOSCOW

7pm-10.30pm local time (4pm to 7.30pm BST)

Between 50,000 and 200,000 fans are expected at the concert, headlined by the Pet Shop Boys. It was set up in just two weeks because Moscow was the last city to be included in Live8. Other acts include the singer Valery Suktin, who will join his former rock band Bravo on stage. Spleen and B-2 will also be appearing. One of the organisers, a friend of Bob Geldof, confessed that he thought a "miracle" was needed to organise the concert.

PARK PLACE, BARRIE, ONTARIO

11am-8pm local time

(4pm to 1am BST)

Canadians were amazed, and the residents of Barrie delighted, when the town 60 miles north of Toronto was chosen as host. Up to 150,000 are expected to watch the comedian Tom Green and the actor Dan Akroyd anchor the gig. Bryan Adams will take a break from his tour with Def Leppard to perform in his home country. Neil Young will close the show, just three months after being treated for a brain aneurysm.

MUSEUM OF ART, PHILADELPHIA

12pm-6pm local time (5pm to 11pm BST)

Hosted by the actor Will Smith, the star-studded line-up includes Bon Jovi, Destiny's Child, Black Eyed Peas and Stevie Wonder. Alicia Keys, Linkin Park and P Diddy will also be there. The British band Kaiser Chiefs will be performing, even though last time they played in the city they drew a crowd of less than two dozen. Ricky Wilson, the lead singer, described being asked to play at Philadelphia as a huge honour.