For those unfamiliar with Rock in Rio, it’s Brazil’s premier music festival event, packing a lineup and attractions befitting South America’s largest country. Originating in its namesake of Rio de Janeiro, the festival is now an international force, with events in Lisbon, Madrid, and starting in 2015, Las Vegas.
So what do you do when your internationally renowned, larger-than-life festival brand expands into the entertainment capital of the world? You totally lose your mind and go so over the top that you find yourself effectively building a new branch of Disneyland in the Nevada desert.
As Variety reports, during a press conference at the Village recording studio in West Los Angeles on Tuesday evening, festival organisers unveiled their vision for Rock In Rio Las Vegas by presenting a scale model of the City of Rock, a 40-acre Las Vegas venue which will host one of the biggest lineups seen in recent memory.
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The festival is spread across two weekends, with the first weekend covering rock acts including No Doubt, Metallica, Linkin Park, Rise Against, The Pretty Reckless, and Deftones, while the second weekend, which covers pop, will feature Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Empire of the Sun, and more.
While this 24-karat lineup is impressive, it’s the festival grounds themselves that are the main attraction. The 85,000-capacity space will feature five stages, themed streets representing the US, UK, and Brazil featuring native foods and entertainment, and even rides, including a 64-foot high zip line to the main stage.
So it’s a massive event poised to attract thousands from around the world and requires the construction of a new venue just to host it? Trust Brazil to come out with the World Cup of music festivals. One weekend will run your roughly $300, with tickets set to go on sale Tuesday, 20th January.
Rock in Rio – Weekend 1: Rock (May 8th – May 9th)
No Doubt
Metallica
Maná
Linkin Park
Rise Against
The Pretty Reckless
Hollywood Undead
Foster the People
Deftones
Gary Clark Jr.
Sepultura
Bleachers
Coheed and Cambria
Saints of Valory
Of Mice & Men
Rock in Rio – Weekend 2: Pop (May 15th – May 16th)
Taylor Swift
Bruno Mars
Ed Sheeran
Sam Smith
Echosmith
Empire of the Sun
Ivete Sangalo
Jessie J
John Legend
Charli XCX
Joss Stone
Tove Lo
Magic!
James Bay
Mikky Ekko
