If anyone doesn't know, Global Citizen is a charity looking to raise funds and awareness for some of the world's biggest challenges. These include projects and initiatives in health, education, and addressing environmental concerns, poverty, women's rights and water sanitation projects.

One of their highest-profile events is the annual Global Citizen Festival that takes place in Manhattan's Central Park. Since many musicians support minority issues or environmental causes, they're often able to attract top talent for this unique music event.

This year it will take place on 28 September, and the first round of artists have just been announced; including headliners Queen + Adam Lambert, Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, OneRepublic, H.E.R. and more and will be broadcast live.

Tickets are free for members of the Global Citizen Community. Through an app, they are encouraged to take actions for raising awareness. There will be a ticket draw throughout the summer to delegate the tickets amongst participants.

In addition to the headliners, announced guest performances are by French Montana, Ben Platt, and Jon Batiste & Stay Human. Announced hosts are Deborra-lee Furness and Hugh Jackman with help from Matt Bomer, Rachel Brosnahan, Elvis Duran, Taraji P. Henson, Rami Malek, Bill Nye, Joy Reid, and Forest Whitaker.

Queen, as we all know, lost its iconic frontman Freddie Mercury in the early nineties. No one argues that Freddie is irreplaceable, that is absolutely known by all. But Queen was always a live rock band, and they needed a frontman to keep the show on the road. For a long time, there was none. But from 2012 onwards, Adam Lambert has been touring with Queen.

In the words of a review in the Independent: "Lambert is utterly respectful of Freddie Mercury's position in the eyes of fans, and chooses to have fun with his role rather than try to imitate the late singer". It seems obvious now, but the only way to bring Queen back on the road would be with someone else, not a Freddie-imitation act.

It seems like this combination is on to a winner, and after their first mini-tour in 2012, they did a N-American tour in 2014 that needed to be extended due to demand. They've since gone to visit S-America as well as Australia and New Zealand, Korea and Japan, Europe and the UK, and further afield. Their next Australian leg is stadium only, and dates for 2020 have been announced already for Japan and New Zealand.

Queen, of course, is no stranger to using their platform to bring attention to worthy causes. Their performance at Live Aid in 1985 is so remarkable the recent Bohemian Rhapsody film was centred on it. Brian May has recently stated that he's interested in participating in another big event like Live Aid to fight Climate Change.

Global Citizen is committed to fighting poverty, and taking good care of our planet is a key part in achieving that goal. May believes this concert will, like Liva Aid, "be a milestone."

So the Global Citizen Festival is not just about the music, it's a festival with a cause. If you're based in New York, why not download the app and take part.