Sting, Crow Kick Off Music Festival

Friday, January 19th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) â€” Sting and Sheryl Crow on Thursday kicked off the ``Caracas Pop Festival 2001,'' a four-day rock music festival featuring Christina Aguilera, Ruben Blades, Mana, Collective Soul, Oasis and Five.

Concert organizers said they hope to attract 30,000 people each day to the Central University of Venezuela's Olympic Stadium, where the festival is taking place.

``It used to be much more common to see artists stop in Caracas. Now it's different because of our economic situation,'' said Pedro Rodriguez, spokesman for Evenpro, the festival's organizer. ``We want Caracas to be considered like an international capital for music just like Buenos Aires, Rio and Mexico City.''

Event organizers took advantage of the simultaneous Rock in Rio festival in Brazil to help attract stars. Sting and Crow arrived in Venezuela after performing in Rio de Janeiro; Oasis and Five will play in Caracas after their shows in Brazil.

Venezuelan bands Amigos Invisibles and Malangas, both Grammy nominees, opened for Sting and Crow on Thursday night. Musicians playing traditional Venezuelan music will be side attractions.