By Chesney Hearst, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – With a little over five months to go until the start of Rock in Rio 2013, the official lineup for the highly anticipated musical festival is complete. Organizers have confirmed and scheduled all acts who will play during the seven day music event that will be held in Barra da Tijuca’s Cidade do Rock/Parque dos Atletas (City of Rock/Athlete’s Park) on September 13th, 14th, 15th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd.
The headliners for the festival are; Beyoncé, Muse, Justin Timberlake, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and Iron Maiden, respectively.
American singer Justin Timberlake was the last headliner confirmed by organizers. Currently touring in support of his most recent album entitled, The 20/20 Experience, Timberlake will play the main stage last on the night of Sunday, September 15th.
Timberlake is well known for his singles which include; “Cry Me a River,” “Rock Your Body” and “SexyBack.”
The 20/20 Experience is the singer-songwriter’s first new release in seven years and includes the singles “Suit & Tie” and “Mirrors.”
Playing before Timberlake on the main stage during the night of September 15th will be American R&B singer-songwriter, Alicia Keys. The multiple award winner has sold over 35 million albums worldwide and is currently touring in support of her fifth full-length album, Girl on Fire.
British pop singer, Jessie J will also join Keys and Timberlake on the 15th. She was the last act confirmed by the festival organizers. Known for her singles; “Price Tag,” “Who’s Laughing Now,” and “Domino,” Jessie J is also a current judge/coach on the television talent competition, “The Voice” UK.
The announcement of her addition to the main stage lineup came two weeks after the tickets for the festival sold out in Brazil within four hours of when they went on sale on April 4th. Although tickets did sell out to customers within Brazil, at the time of this report they are still available for purchase by international customers.
Those outside of the country can purchase a maximum of two tickets per day for R$260 each. They can then pick up their tickets at the box office located in the Cidade do Rock during the days of the festival.
Rock in Rio acts will perform on three stages spread throughout the Cidade do Rock. They will be The Palco Mundo (World Stage/Main Stage), The Palco Sunset (Sunset Stage), and The Electronic Stage. There will also be a separate area entitled, Rock Street.
Created in the style of London’s Camden and Ireland’s Grafton Street with bars and food kiosks reminiscent of English pubs, Rock Street will feature artists and performers entertaining festival goers. Acts will include Irish stepdancers, British rock and Celtic dancers, magicians, jugglers, artists and burlesque acts.
Shows on the Sunset stage will begin at 2:40 PM on each day of the festival. The confirmed acts include Living Color and Angelique Kidjo; Maria Rita and Selah Sue; Jesuton and The Vintage Trouble; Marky Ramone and Michale Graves; The Offspring; Kimbra and Olodum; Rob Zombie; Ben Harper; Grace Potter and the Nocturnals; and Sepultura among many others. Performers for the Electronic stage will begin at 10:30 PM each night of the festival and will include Vitalic, Paul Oakenfold, Rodrigo Vieira, Tiga, and Felguk, among others.
Other confirmations to the lineup since the last The Rio Times update include the 2012 “American Idol” winner, Phillip Phillips and DJ David Guetta. Phillips will join the main stage lineup for the night of September 21st and Guetta will return to Rio to join the lineup for the opening night of the festival on the 13th. He will play after popular Brazilian axé singer, Ivete Sangalo and before headliner Beyoncé.
To view the complete lineup and daily schedules, visit the Rock in Rio official website. For the 2011 Rock in Rio, an additional day was added months after the final lineup was announced, which included Stevie Wonder headlining, and the British acts Jamiroquai and Joss Stone.
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