Confirmation of Barcelona date

Coldplay's free Barcelona concert confirmed

Band's Web site will offer ticket details

By Lars Brandle, Billboard

May 21, 2008, 01:46 PM

LONDON -- Coldplay's anticipated free Barcelona concert will be held June 17 at the Espacio Movistar venue, the British band's record label EMI confirmed Wednesday.

The Spanish gig, which was initially leaked by frontman Chris Martin during a radio broadcast last month, will be book-ended by previously announced free dates at London's Brixton Academy on June 16, and N.Y.'s Madison Square Garden on June 23.

Details on the distribution of tickets for the Barcelona concert will be revealed on the group's official Web site.

The three free gigs are driving a novel promotion campaign for Coldplay's new album "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," due June 12 internationally and June 17 in the U.S.

As the part of the campaign, the band instigated a weeklong MP3-giveaway of opening track "Violet Hill," which generated more than 2 million downloads, the label says. Despite huge demand for the freebie download, the single holds at No. 8 on the current Official U.K. Singles Chart, the same position as it's opening sales