Rock in Rio opens with Foo Fighters leading a day true to its roots

Rock in Rio began a new edition on Friday with a lineup that stays close to the festival’s rock roots, placing Foo Fighters at the center of the opening day. Over seven days, the event will move between rock, pop, metal, electronic music and K-pop.

Thousands of fans reached the Cidade do Rock in Rio de Janeiro from the early morning, hoping to secure a prime position near the main stage. They waited under intense sun until the gates opened in the early afternoon.

Carol and Ailine were among those at the front. The first-time visitors wore shirts, blouses and ties as a tribute to The Hives, the Swedish band making its first appearance at the festival. “Our plan is to put our hands on him,” Carol, a 21-year-old from Rio, told EFE, referring to the band’s vocalist and his reputation for interacting with the crowd.

Other fans returned because of the festival’s distinctive atmosphere. Diego, a 34-year-old publicist from São Paulo, said no other multi-act festival matched Rock in Rio. Viviane, 31, who grew up in Rio’s Maré favela, was attending her fifth edition. She said the festival made access easier for people with limited resources and offered cultural opportunities that were scarce where she lived.

Nova Twins opened the main stage in the late afternoon. The British duo, made up of vocalist and guitarist Amy Love and bassist and backing vocalist Georgia South, performed in Brazil for the first time. The group combines alternative rock, punk, hip-hop, heavy metal and electronic elements. The Hives and Rise Against were due to follow, before Foo Fighters, led by Dave Grohl, closed the program after midnight. The band last played Rock in Rio seven years ago and will make its third festival appearance.

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Our plan is to put our hands on him.