Rihanna performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Brazil.
RIO DE JANEIRO: About 100,000 people turned out in Brazil for the start of the world’s biggest music festival, Rock in Rio, featuring an all-star line-up including Rihanna, Katy Perry and Coldplay.
The event is expected to attract 700,000 people over its week-long run, with around 100,000 a day turning out to see some of the biggest names in pop and rock, belting out tunes on Rio de Janeiro’s shoreline.
The mega show - sold out to ticket-holders paying from $50-100 - is taking place in the ‘City of Rock’, a specially-built venue on the site of what will be the future Olympic Village when Rio hosts the 2016 Summer Games.
“Hello Rio!” Perry screamed to the delight of the fans after launching her set with her mega-hit “Teenage Dream”. The US pop princess took the stage after several local acts and fireworks displayed to kick off the night. Elton John and Rihanna also performed on the event’s opening night.
Other artists to follow later in the week include Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jamiroquai, Metallica, Maroon 5, Guns N’ Roses, and top Brazilian singers such as Ivete Sangalo.
“Rock in Rio is to Brazil what Woodstock was to the world,” one of the organisers, Roberta Medina, said. While still by far the biggest event of its kind on the planet, the size of this year’s Rock in Rio is half that of its first edition in 1985, when a staggering 1.4 million people saw AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Rod Stewart and - to great enthusiasm - Queen.
Following the huge initial success, Portugal and Spain have also held festivals called Rock in Rio since 2004. Rio’s organisers plan to hold more editions closer together in the future, already confirming Rock in Rio festivals for 2013 and 2015.
Source: The Express Tribune
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