Dates have been announced for a 2011 Rock in Rio festival: Sept. 23-25 and Oct. 1-2. It was last held in Rio in 2001, and it was a blast. At that one I saw REM, Foo Fighters, Beck, Fernanda Abreu, Cassia Eller, Dave Matthews, Neil Young, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and many more.

Line-up for the 2011 edition is not yet available, but I'm sure it will be big.

Should be awesome!! Another great event that is upcoming is Back 2 Black, on August 28 through the 30th.

Official link: www.back2blackfestival.com.br

It is being held at "Estação da Leopoldina" (The old train station close to centro on the way Av Brasil, on the other side of the street of Samba School Tijuca)

Here's a little more on the Rock in Rio festival:

http://www.rollingstone.com.br/secoes/novas/noticias/8786/

No official word on the lineup. The article mentions Shakira, Radiohead and Lady Gaga as possibilities, along with Miley Cyrus (they always set aside one day for the kiddie set).

I believe Metallica has been announced as headliners...

http://oglobo.globo.com/cultura/mat/2010/11/09/metallica-a-primeira-atracao-internacional-do-rock-in-rio-4-922983956.asp

Cool. For more on the festival:

http://www.rockinrio.com.br/

The Back to Black Festival looks excellent!. I only wish they could add Jorge Benjor and maybe Oliver Mtukudzi (from Zimbabwe) to the line-up. Then it would be beyond excellent!!

Could someone please work on this?

Rock in Rio Tickets go on sale...thanks, Ken, for the link.

http://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/noticia/2010/11/comeca-venda-de-ingressos-para-o-rock-rio-2011.html