Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
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In a weekend of chart toppers, Bruno Mars (left), Sam Smith, and John Legend will perform on May 16, with Taylor Swift (right), Ed Sheeran, and Jessie J on May 15. been staged in Lisbon, Madrid, and of course Rio de Janeiro, where it has drawn crowds of up to 1.5 million. But now, for the first time, the festival will take place in North America, and the booming international brand and Las Vegas are enjoying the heady early days of a love affair. "My father decided eventually he wanted to go abroad and make Rock in Rio a global brand," Medina explains. "When we thought about where to go, Las Vegas was the perfect place because it's the heart of entertainment." Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Rock in Rio will take place over two weekends, May 8 – 9 (featuring rock acts) and May 15 – 16 (showcasing pop), on a roughly 40 -acre parcel of land at Las Vegas Boulevard and Sahara Avenue. The headliners include recent multiple Grammy winner Sam Smith, No Doubt, Metallica, Taylor Swift, Joss Stone, and Bruno Mars. The festival's main open-air venue is dubbed the City of Rock, with a Rock Street offering sections devoted to Brazil, the UK, and the US —not to mention a circuslike atmosphere, with a zip line, a Ferris wheel, and street artists and performers. Which is fitting, given that a certain globally renowned, locally celebrated circus troupe is partly don't miss: Our picks for Rock in Rio's most must-see sets The headline artists are scheduled to play full sets with no overlap, so you'll never have to worry about racing back and forth between the Main and Sunset stages. Be sure not to miss our 12 must-see performers: Foster the People Sunset Stage, May 8 Gary Clark Jr. Sunset Stage, May 8 No Doubt Main Stage, May 8 Linkin Park Main Stage, May 9 Metallica Main Stage, May 9 Ed Sheeran Main Stage, May 15 Jessie J Sunset Stage, May 15 Taylor Swift Main Stage, May 15 Bruno Mars Main Stage, May 16 John Legend Sunset Stage, May 16 Joss Stone Sunset Stage, May 16 Sam Smith Main Stage, May 16 Plus, catch the hottest dance music on the EDM stage. responsible for Rock in Rio landing in Vegas. "Our partner Cirque du Soleil had been doing business in Brazil," notes Chris Baldizan, senior vice president of entertainment for MGM Resorts International, which is now also partnered with Rock in Rio. "They talked to Roberto, who said he had always wanted to move the event to North America. Fortunately, our partners said, 'Before you explore North America, your first meeting should be with MGM Resorts.'" As a result, Rock in Rio committed to Vegas for 2015, as well as 2017 and 2019. "There are some great festivals in this country," Baldizan says, "but there's none where you're walking across the street from your hotel room or hopping in a cab and taking a five-minute ride to this amazing site that we're spending $20 million on." Rock in Rio can accommodate up to 85,000 music lovers per day, and its promoters hope to build its name recognition in the US to rival megafestivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo. "Our idea is once we're here, we don't want to leave," Medina says. "We've been doing this in Portugal for 10 years. What do I want to see in 10 years? Kids born around Rock in Rio in Vegas and this becoming part of their life." rockinrio.com V vegasmagazine.com 41