As promised, Elton will return to Brazil, and the first big international shows of 2009 in Brazil are now confirmed. Elton and the band will be performing on Saturday, January 17, in São Paulo, at Anhembi, and on Monday January 19, in Rio de Janeiro, at Praça da Apoteose, as part of the 'Rocket Man' tour.

Tickets for the São Paulo concert will go on public sale at 10pm on November 8, 2008, and for the Rio de Janeiro concert at 10pm on November 9. They will be available via this link, or by phone at 4007-1007 (local call anywhere in Brazil).Please see 'Ticket Details' below.

The Rocket Man tour began in 2007, just after the release of the CD Rocket Man - The Definitive Hits. This tour has seen Elton and the band perform over 60 concerts across the world - in Europe, Asia, Australasia, Africa, North America and now in Latin America, starting in Brazil. Elton's last public concerts in Brazil were in 1995, during his 'Made In England' tour.

Elton will be performing with musicians Davey Johnstone (guitar and vocals), Guy Babylon (keyboards), Bob Birch (bass and vocals), John Mahon (percussion and vocals) and Nigel Olsson (drums and vocals).

Opening for Elton will be the phenomenal young British singer, James Blunt. During his prodigious career James has released only two albums so far, but he has already sold over 14 million copies around the world. The single You're Beautiful was the first British single to reach the # 1 position in the USA since Elton topped the charts there with Candle in the Wind 1997. In Brazil, James Blunt will be performing with his band, Paul Beard (piano, keyboards and vocals), Ben Castle (guitar and vocals), John Garrison (bass and vocals) and Karl Brazil (drums and vocals). James' biggest hits in Brazil so far are You're Beautiful, Same Mistake and Carry you Home. These songs have been played frequently on the radio during 2008, and the latter two were both big hits following their inclusion on 2 TV Globo soap operas soundtracks.

We will have an allocation of Rocket tickets for this concert and they will go on sale soon on the Concerts and Tickets page. Please note that the Rocket tickets for the Brazil concerts are not our usual premium seats. In Brazil the 'Pista Premium' tickets are for the standing area in front of stage - there are no reserved seats for this concert. Buying these tickets will not guarantee you a particular place within the standing area. Please also note that for these two concerts, local students and people over the age of 60 are entitled to reduced priced tickets. We are not selling these reduced price tickets on eltonjohn.com, so if you are in either of these categories and want a reduction you are advised to buy your tickets from the public box office.

Principle sponsors of The Elton John shows in Brazil are Banco Cruzeiro do Sul, who are celebrating their fifth anniversary, and Nokia. The mobile carrier Vivo is also sponsoring the tour. Planmusic Entretenimento, in partnership with Brasil 1 Entretenimento, are responsible for the organization.

Ticket details:
Tickets for the São Paulo concert will go on public sale at 10pm on November 8, 2008, and for the Rio de Janeiro concert at 10pm on November 9. They will be available via this link, or by phone at 4007-1007 (local call anywhere in Brazil.) On November 8 and 9 the call center will be operating 24 hours. From Monday 10 onwards, it will work from 6am to 12pm.
In São Paulo, it will also be possible to buy tickets at Pacaembu Stadium from 9am to 6pm every day, except on those days when there are football matches. In Rio, there will be tickets available every day at Maracanãzinho Gymnasium from November 10 onwards, except on those days when there are football matches on at Maracanã Stadium.
There will be 30,000 tickets for sale for São Paulo's concert and 35,000 for Rio de Janeiro's gig. Age restrictions apply for those under 18.