The free concert is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the beach.

It is one of several day-long "Live Earth" concerts being held around the world Saturday. The series opened in Sydney, with a traditional welcoming ceremony by Australian Aboriginal dancers.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivered greetings to the Sydney audience by video, then appeared as a hologram (a computer-generated image) to Tokyo concert-goers.

More than 150 of the world's most popular musical acts will perform in concerts on seven continents, including Antarctica.

Organizers say they hope their message about climate change will reach two billion people - those attending the concerts and others taking part through radio, television and the Internet.

The performers include Shakira, the Black-Eyed Peas, Yusuf Islam - the British musician and singer originally known as Cat Stevens - Metallica, Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Gore says he hopes the concerts will jump-start "an unprecedented and sustained global movement" against climate change. He has become one of the world's most visible activists campaigning for action to stop global warming.

The "Live Earth" concerts also have drawn criticism from some who say that flying celebrities - many of whom are accustomed to luxurious lifestyles - all around the globe is more likely to result in a net increase in global warming. - VOA News