International Concerts

By Maíra Amorim, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO – Judging by the string of international concerts to hit Rio between now and the end of the year, it seems that the music industry is weathering the current financial storm with courage.

The line-up includes artists such as Lily Allen, Pet Shop Boys, Faith No More, The Killers, Prodigy, Living Colour, Il Divo, Laura Pausini, Sarah Brightman and Miyavi.

Lily will play Rio on September 17 at the HSBC Arena and São Paulo on September 16 at Via Funchal to promote her second album “It’s Not Me, It’s You”.

Tickets are already on sale and cost from R$120 with a student card and R$240 full price. Her first single from the album, “The Fear” was included on the soundtrack of TV Globo’s soap opera Caras e Bocas.

Italian pop star Laura Pausini will touch down a few weeks after Lily to perform a show on October 4 at Citibank Hall. She used to be a regular on the Brazilian international scene, but hasn’t played in the country since 2005. The 35-year-old singer who has sold more than 45 million albums will sing hits such as “La Solitude”, “Strani Amore” and “Primavera In Anticipo” (It’s My Song), recorded with James Blunt. Ticket prices range from R$200 to R$400.

Next up is Pet Shop Boys, who will also play Citibank Hall on October 14. They are a common name on the Brazilian concert circuit, and played here last in 2007. The group are embarking on a South American tour to promote their tenth album “Yes” and will also perform in Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic. In Brazil, they will also play Belo Horizonte, São Paulo and Brasília.

Living Colour will perform on October 16 at Circo Voador. The band is coming back after a five-year break to launch the new album “The Chair In The Doorway”. The group, formed in 1984, maintains its original line-up with Vernon Reid on guitar, Corey Glover as singer, William Calhoum on drums and Doug Wimbish on bass.

The soprano Sarah Brightman will give just one concert on October 23 at Citibank Hall as part of her tour entitled “Sarah Brightman in Concert”. She has sold more than 78 million records and is the only artist to appear simultaneously on Billboard charts as “Classic” and “Dance”. Tickets are from R$250 to R$450.

The international quartet Il Divo will perform on October 27 at Credicard Hall, in São Paulo, as part of the tour “An Evening With Il Divo”. Another band performing in São Paulo is Jane’s Addiction, at the Maquinara Festival, on November 7.

November in Rio will be kicked off by Faith No More, on the fifth, at Citibank Hall. The group enjoyed a lot of success in the 90s and have reunited after a decade apart. The Killers will close the month with a bang at HSBC Arena on November 24. The tickets are already on sale and cost from R$100 to R$350.

It will be the second time that the American band plays Rio. The Killers played at the 2007 Tim Festival. They will be in São Paulo on November 21.