Rio de Janeiro, Oct 31 (IANS/EFE): The 80,000 advance orders put up for sale online for the 2013 Rock in Rio festival in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro were sold out in just under an hour, organisers said Tuesday.

"Fans bought up all 80,000 Rock in Rio Cards available in record time - 52 minutes," organizers said.

Rock in Rio Cards are advance purchases that give bearers the right to acquire their tickets early and give bearers priority in choosing which of the seven days they will attend, once the programming is known and before box offices open to the general public.

Brazil's 2013 Rock in Rio has concerts scheduled for Sep 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 22, with an audience capacity of 85,000 people each day at what has been dubbed Rock City, which means the festival as a whole could be enjoyed by a total of 550,000 fans.

The remaining 515,000 tickets will go on sale next April, after the programming is confirmed. At that time buyers can choose the day they wish to attend but without the right to change it later.

The last festival in Rio de Janeiro attracted some 700,000 people over seven days in 2011.

Artists already confirmed for next year's Rock in Rio include US singers Bruce Springsteen, Ben Harper and the Iron Maiden and Metallica groups.