Swift, Metallica set for Rock in Rio fest in Vegas

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift (photo) and Metallica are among the performers set for the US debut of the Rock in Rio music festival next year.

Festival organizers say No Doubt, Linkin Park, The Deftones and John Legend will also perform during the four-day event in Las Vegas. Rock in Rio USA debuts May 8 to 9 and May 15 to 16.

No Doubt attended a press conference Friday announcing the line-up in New York’s Time Square, where John Mayer also surprised the crowd with a live performance of two songs. Mayer performed at the 2013 Rock in Rio festival alongside Beyoncé Knowles  and Justin Timberlake.

A group including casino company MGM Resorts plans to build a 33-acre (13.35-hectare) open-air music venue on the Las Vegas Strip for the festival. Plans call for five stages.

Rock in Rio launched in 1985. The festival  will also be held in Rio de Janeiro in September 2015, featuring Katy Perry and Legend.