In mid-March, rising American band Maroon 5 will perform live at the Shanghai International Gymnastic Center, the second concert by an international mainstream band after Linkin Park's outdoor concert last year. Tickets are priced from 300 yuan (US$42) to 1,000 yuan. As part of their world tour, the concert in Shanghai is the band's only stop on the Chinese mainland.

The band are known for their commitment to environmental protection issues and a portion of the ticket sales from the tour will be donated to charity organizations to prevent global warming.

Grammy's Best New Artist in 2005 for debut album "Songs about Jane," the Los Angeles-based band is known for the powerful melodies, funky rhythms and vocalist Adam Levine's electrifying voice. The debut album sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and catapulted the band to international stardom.

The band's second album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long" earned them a 2008 Grammy Awards nomination.

(Shanghai Daily February 25, 2008)