By Chesney Hearst, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rock in Rio organizers continue to shape the 2013 lineup with the additions of Bon Jovi, Matchbox Twenty, Florence and the Machine, Thirty Seconds to Mars, and Capital Inicial. The bands join the growing list of performers scheduled to play at the upcoming seven day music festival in September at Barra da Tijuca’s Parque dos Atletas Cidade do Rock (Olympic Park City of Rock).
Most recently, the American rock band, Bon Jovi, was confirmed as the headliner for the festival’s “Rock Day” on Friday, September 20th. Known for hits such as “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “It’s My Life”, the band has perfected their live performances during their thirty year history having played more than 2,700 shows in over 52 countries, including Brazil.
Fronted by singer Jon Bon Jovi with Richie Sambora on lead guitar, Tico Torres on drums and David Bryan on keyboards, Bon Jovi will appear at the festival as part of the Because We Can tour, named for the first single released from the band’s 12th full-length album, What About Now.
Another recently announced addition to the Rock Day lineup is American band, Matchbox Twenty. The group known for the songs “Push” and “Unwell”, will proceed the previously confirmed Canadian rockers Nickelback and Bon Jovi on the Palco Mundo (World Stage or main stage).
Formed in 1995 with Rob Thomas as their lead singer, Matchbox Twenty have released four full-length albums and September will mark the band’s first show ever in Brazil. “When I see clips of artists performing at Rock in Rio, thousands of people watching,” Matchbox Twenty drummer, Paul Doucette told G1 Globo. “There seems to be an excitement greater than all the places I’ve ever played. It’s all very big.”
One act familiar first-hand with the Brazilian audience reception is the British indie rock band, Florence and the Machine, who were recently confirmed to join headliners, Muse on the main stage on Saturday, September 14th.
Lead by singer-songerwriter Florence Welch, the band previously toured Brazil in 2012 as part of the Summer Soul Festival. Florence and “the machine”, which includes; songwriter-producer Isabella Summers, guitarist Robert Ackroyd, drummer Chris Hayden, bass guitarist Mark Saunders and harpist Tom Monger, released their debut album, Lungs, in 2009.
The band, which released a second full-length album, entitled Ceremonials, in 2011, are known for Welch’s strong voices and songs such as; “Dog Days Are Over” and “Heavy in Your Arms”, that musically mix alternative rock with a bit of soul.
Before Florence and the Machine plays and Muse closes the night of September 14th, the Los Angeles, U.S. based band, Thirty Seconds to Mars will take the main stage.
Formed in 1998 by actor and musician Jared Leto and his brother Shannon Leto, the band known for progressive/grunge rock has released three studio albums to date and have also played in Brazil previously in 2007 and 2011. They are scheduled to release a new single “Up in the Air” on March 19th and a fourth full-length album later this year.
Brazilian rockers, Capital Incial, also formed by brothers – drummer, Fê Lemos and bassist Flávio Lemos – will complete the main stage lineup as the main stage openers for September 14th. “Rock in Rio is unique for us artists,” Captial Inicial singer Dinho Ouro Preto said in a press release. This will be the band’s fourth time playing the festival, “and we always have unique experience,” Preto added.
Tickets per day for Rock in Rio are R$260 (full price) and R$130 (half price) and will officially go on sale to the public on April 4th. They are currently available for some Itaucard holders to purchase at a fifteen percent discount. For more information about tickets and lineup dates, see the official Rock In Rio website here.
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