Sting to Play Baalbek Music Festival in First Lebanon Show

Published April 7th, 2001 - 03:00 GMT

British rock star Sting will play his first show in Lebanon in July when he headlines this summer's music festival in Baalbek, home to the world's largest remaining Roman temples, organizers said Friday.

Sting will hold two concerts July 13 and 14 at the feet of the six colossal columns of the temple of Jupiter at the heart of the city of Baalbek, the Baalbek International Festival announced.

The former Police frontman, who won a Grammy Award earlier this year for the Best Male Vocal Performance for the song "She Walks This Earth," is on a world tour, dubbed "Brand New Day" after the title of his latest album in which Algerian singer Cheb Mami, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor collaborated.

Sting's Baalbek concert is part of a Middle East tour that will kick off in Dubai April 19-20 before taking him to Amman on April 22 and to the foot of the Gizah pyramids in Egypt on April 25.

An official at the Baalbek festival told AFP that the names of other local and international performers will be announced within few weeks.

Over the past few years, the festival has hosted concerts by many world-famous artists, including US jazz artists Nina Simone and Herbie Hancock, cellist Vanessa Mae and French singer Charles Aznavour.

Flamboyant pop star Elton John will hold a concert July 7 at this summer's art festival at the 19th century Beiteddine Palace east of Beirut -- AFP