International Artists in Rio

By Doug Gray, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO – The city may have been overlooked recently by rock royalty Metallica, ZZ Top and AC/DC in favour of Sao Paulo, but the first half of 2010 looks set to put Rio de Janeiro back on the map for international touring artists.

Earlier this year Beyonce whipped up a storm with her inimitable brand of R’n’B and pop, and global stars Coldplay brought their ‘Viva la Vida’ tour to Apoteose during the weekend.

Judging by the list of confirmed and rumored shows coming up, however, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Rock behemoths Guns n Roses are sure to cause a stir with their series of four dates across Brazil, hitting Apoteose on March 14th. The band’s ‘Chinese Democracy’ album, finally released last year after a long delay, may have received mixed reviews, but classics like ‘Paradise City’ and ‘Sweet Child O Mine’ will doubtless shake the stadium to the core.

Scottish indie legends Franz Ferdinand step into town five days later to play at Lapa’s perfectly suited Fundição Progresso venue, followed the day after by The Gossip. The American group’s smash hit ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’ made lead singer Beth Ditto a household name, and her headline grabbing outfits and performances have already taken Rio by storm at the 2008 TIM festival.

Nelly Furtado successfully rebuilt her career with the help of Timbaland in 2006, and the Canadian brings her ‘Mi Plan’ tour to the HSBC Arena in Barra da Tijuca at the end of March.

Rumors abound that U2, having extended 2009s acclaimed 360degree world tour for another year, will be hitting the Cidade Maravilhosa in 2010 as well. One can only imagine that The Maracanã would be the place to stage such an event, and a preliminary date of April 15th has been posted across the internet. Wishful thinking? We will have to wait a little longer to find out.

Paul McCartney’s presence the following day has also been going through the rumor mill, but to have two such enormous shows back to back at The Maracanã would be a logistical impossibility, and with neither official band web site confirming or denying the dates, it looks like a case of wait and see.

Finally, Lady GaGa was due in town at the end of 2009 but the show never materialized, and now it appears that June 12th has been slated for the wild one to bring her ‘Monsters Ball’ tour to Vivo Rio in Gloria, confirmation is due soon.

Those upcoming dates in full:

13 March A-Ha Citibank Hall
14 March Guns n Roses Apoteose
19 March Franz Ferdinand Fundição Progresso
20 March The Gossip TBA
28 March Nelly Furtado HSBC Arena
15 April U2 (RUMOURED)
16 April Paul McCartney (RUMOURED)
23 April Simply Red Citibank Hall
24 April Moby Citibank Hall
12 June Lady GaGa Vivo Rio (TBC)