Rock in Rio Lisboathe Portuguese festival par excellence, kicked off on Saturday 15th, a day with sold-out tickets. The rockiest day of the 20th edition of Rock in Rio Lisbon was marked by performances by iconic bands: Extreme, Evanescent, Scorpions, Europe, Hybrid Theory and Blind Zeroamong many others, dragged the 80,000 attendees to remember mythical songs like ‘The Final Countdown’, ‘Bring me to Life’ or ‘Wind of Change’.
Brushstrokes of the best musical variety
Sunday, June 16, was the second day of Rock in Rio Lisboa and once again it opened its doors with all the tickets sold out, welcoming 80,000 people again to attend the concerts of Ed Sheeran, 10 years after his last visit to Rock in Rio Lisboa. The artist went on stage accompanied only by his guitar and sang his greatest hits: ‘Castle On The Hill’, ‘Shivers’ and ‘Give Me Love’. In the middle of the audience was Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Between tears at the end of the concert, Calum Scott welcomed a packed audience who sang ‘You Are The Reason’ and ‘Dancing On My Own’ in unison. Jão ate a pastel de nata on stage and made the audience dance with ‘Idiota’, and Fernando Daniel shared ‘Casa’, with Lukas Graham.
Jake Bugg opened the Galp stage and didn’t forget to play the smash hit ‘All I Need’, and Carolina de Deus he got excited during his concert when he saw the audience full of fans in Ciudad del Rock and created a special connection with the public. Lukas Graham’s concert was another of the highlights of the day, which featured the special participation of the Portuguese Fernando Daniel, who joined the Danish artist to sing ‘Love Someone’. Ysmine, Kevin and McAcondize were also, among many more artists, those who achieved this second sold out.
The Spanish phenomenon continued Iñigo Quintero, with the hit ‘Si no estas’, which moved, some 20,000 people came running to accompany him and sing each of his songs, I felt a spectacular moment. Lauren Spencer Smith was also one of the guest artists for this day, along with many more artists.
A second weekend with stellar Aitana
The third day of Rock in Rio Lisboa, on Saturday, June 22, welcomed 60,000 people, who witnessed the Portugal-Turkey match on the stage screens and the great debut of the Jonas Brothers in Portugal. In a memorable concert that will go down in history, the American pop rock band brought together a flood of fans who ecstatically sang ‘Waffle House’, ‘Cake By TheOcean’ and ‘Sucker’. United by love, an equally packed audience was moved by the American rapper.
Macklemore, who brought you songs like ‘Thrift Shop’, ‘Same Love’ and ‘Can’t Hold Us’. Ivete Sangalo once again received a packed audience that sang each and every one of the great hits of the queen of Rock in Rio, such as ‘Tempo de Alegria’, ‘Abalou’, ‘O Mundo Vai’ and ‘Só Love’. And fulfilling a childhood dream, Carolina Deslandes made the audience sing ‘A Vida Todo’, one of her most emblematic hits.
Other notable performances of the day were James, Filipe Karlsson, Leigh-Anne, Kura, Fonzie, Dilsinho, Mamonas Assassinas – O Legado, Miguel Carmona in Confessions Live format by MegaHits, Ana Arrebentinha, Inês Monstro and in the SAPO Half Time Show with Tripeirinha, Tiago Bandeira and Rui Pedro Silvay Afonso Santos.
On Sunday, June 23, Rock in Rio Lisboa reached its fourth and last day also with tickets sold out. It opened its doors at 1 p.m. and was dedicated to the younger public. A lineup full of pop, hip-hop and R&B. The Spanish Aitana opened the main stage, the Mundo stage at 4 p.m., which for an hour presented itself to the public with ‘Alpha’, its latest work, with which it made an audience that was impatiently waiting under the 30 degree heat to dance and many others that came closer as the show progressed. ‘Las Babys’, ‘Darari’, ‘Los Angeles’, ‘miamor’ and ‘Mon Amour’‘, were some songs received with shouts and great enthusiasm from the Portuguese people.
Camila CabelloNE-YO, MC Cabelinho, Azevedo, Henrique Mano, Mário Skepis and Núria Serrote, among many other artists have put the finishing touch to this new 2024 edition. Also Doja Cat who with his spectacular performance swept away the chants of the public in Tejo Park.
What artists say
Several of the artists who performed at this year’s Rock in Rio Lisboa were full of praise for the festival on social media:
- Scorpions: “It was simply incredible to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic Rock in Rio.”
- Evanescence: “It’s hard to explain the feeling of performing in front of 80,000 people. It’s impressive.”
- Extreme: “Playing for these 100,000 people was an honor that cannot be explained in words. We will never forget it.”
- Xutos & Pontapés: “This perverse life has incredible moments.”
- Ed Sheeran: “Castles, football and an incredible concert. Much love, Lisbon.”
- Jao: “It’s crazy to be so far from home and feel as at home as I do here.”
- Calum Scott: “My biggest concert to date… 80,000 people at Rock in Rio Lisboa was everything I had ever dreamed of.”
- Fernando Daniel: “I can’t get this concert out of my head… and I don’t want it out of yours.”
- Inigo Quintero: “But what an outrage this festival is! I’m happy, vey happy”.
- Aitana: “It is a very nice opportunity in such a big festival, where so many people come.”
Attractions
The opening of the new City of Rock brought with it numerous attractions that continue to delight the public. One of those that you cannot miss in this 10th special edition is the ALL Experience, an immersive and sensory experience. For sports lovers, the ESC Online Sports Bar stand attraction is a must-see, with many fun games, broadcasts of football matches and other sports. On Route 85, love is celebrated with humor at the Somersby Cupid House, featuring lookalikes of Elvis Presley and Amy Winehouse, and visitors can attend student group concerts at the School of Rock CineStage. For those who want to venture hereTo see the site from above, there is the Ferris Wheel, with a new look and five themed cabins, and the Pepsi Slide, for the most daring who want to cross the World Stage amphitheater. When your stomach starts growling, a stop at Chefs Garden Continente is certainly a great option, with delicious meals, such as the new pop-up restaurant Cozinha Continente, which offers a wide variety of homemade dishes.
The Gato Preto Rock in Rio VIP area continues to be a success, with more than 2,000 square meters and capacity for 2,500 guests, including accreditation areas, lounges and two terraces with privileged views of the World Stage and the Galp Stage.
For a better world
In the 20th anniversary edition of the festival, there were 500,000 reusable cups, avoiding the production of 10 tons of waste. The Mobility operation, the result of a collective effort by Rock in Rio with Via Verde and ten other mobility partners – CARRIS, CP, Metro, Fertagus, Rede Expressos, FlixBus, Gipsyy, TTSL – Transtejo Soflusa -, Carris Metropolitana and Telpark – guaranteed a 30% reduction in the carbon footprint associated with traveling to an event of this size. The operation of the Carris shuttles ensured that An average of 30,000 people a day will travel to and from Gare do Oriente to Parque Tejo.
The use of more efficient generators allowed reduce diesel emissions by 80% and diesel emissions from generators by 15%, even with 30,000 m2 more in Ciudad del Rock than in Bela Vista.
Public and international press
More than 106 countries are represented in the 10th edition of the festival, with the main markets being Spain, United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Germany and Brazil. In addition to the public, the international press is also present at Rock in Rio Lisboa, with mmedia from countries such as Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil and Italy.
The days June 15, 16, 22 and 23, more than 300,000 people came to Parque Tejo. In addition to the public that inaugurated the new City of Rock, many teams worked to ensure that everything went well in the 20th anniversary edition of Rock in Rio Lisboa: more than 350 companies and 14,500 accredited people contributed to this historic edition, which with four stages offered 48 hours of music and entertainment for all tastes and ages.
It should be remembered that the 10th edition of Rock in Rio Lisboa will return in 2026to stay in Tejo Park and make thousands of people happy.
