This file photo taken on December 2, 2015 shows recording artist Usher performing at the "Sinatra 100 An All-Star Grammy Concert", in Las Vegas, Nevada. US R&B star Usher and Canadian indie rock groups Metric and Half Moon Run will headline a free concert in Montreal next month aimed at ending AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. Advocacy group Global Citizen, the concert sponsor, said August 16, 2016 the September 17 show would be held at the city's Bell Centre a day after an international donor conference to raise money for the fight against the epidemics.VALERIE MACON/AFP / Getty Images
A concert to raise awareness about the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria will be held in Montreal on Sept. 17, organizers said Tuesday.
Usher, Half Moon Run, Metric and Grimes will be part of the program, which is being presented by Denmark-based Global Citizen and The Global Fund, an international partnership dedicated to eradicating AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
A day before the concert, The Global Fund is hosting what it calls a "pledging conference" that brings together governments, private-sector companies and other organizations to collect money for the partnership's activities over the next three years.
Canada has pledged $785-million to The Global Fund between 2017 and 2019, a 20-per-cent increase from its last instalment to the financial partnership.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Microsoft founder Bill Gates will attend the conference as special guests, organizers said.
Montreal-based radio host Patrick Langlois will emcee the concert along with his radio colleague Maripier Morin, TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos and Nelson Mandela's grandson, Kweku Mandela.
Tickets go on sale Saturday but people can "earn their tickets" by participating in a few online activities outlined on Global Citizen's website.