Nowadays you can hear the electricity of the Rock al Parque festival up to a kilometer from the stages of Simón Bolívar Park. The parade of “rockers” through every corner of the security ring took place in peace and quiet, in the ritual of a weekend that now dates back 29 years.
It’s not just about decibels, but also about the cultural challenge of bringing together thousands of viewers, mostly young audiences, around a genre they can no longer find on commercial radio, at a time when music is no longer sold , in which the sounds predominate urban and reggaeton. In addition, Rock al Parque comes to its second post-pandemic edition after a two-year absence. More than 300,000 people came together in 2022 and this time they hope to attract even more.
Bogotá, November 12, 2023. Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park hosts the second day of the Rock al Parque 2023 festival weekend.
Photo:
Sergio Acero Yate / El Tiempo
This year, the artists making up the line-up include, in the heaviest sounds, bands such as Sweden’s In Flames and the United States’ Agnostic Front, Overkill and Makewar; from Spain, Saratoga, but also risky bets like El Kanka, in the Latin American quota and more focused on pop-rock and fusions, there are such important names as Julieta Venegas (Mexico); Los Pericos and Los Auténticos Decadentes for Argentina; Javiera Mena and Matías Aguayo for Chile, to name just a few of the international bands, while in the national bands Aterciopelados, Javier Alerta, Los Petit Fellas are among the most notable, as well as 20 district bands selected by call.
This edition of Rock al Parque, which takes place on three stages in the park (Plaza, Bio and Eco), also has new programmers: María Camila Rivas, Rodrigo Duarte and Héctor Mora – one of the founders of the festival – formed the Curatorial Committee.
The joy of “Pogo”
The usual human “mixers”, as they call the most intense centers of the famous “pogo” – that celebration in a circle with thrusts and some punches and kicks – involve men and women (some “mixers” are reserved exclusively for women). . Also notable was the presence of many minors – over 14 years old – accompanied by their parents.
This rock scene is constantly evolving, which means you have to be receptive to the mix of sounds and even traditions. A symbol of this this weekend were performances by the Soacha-born groups Ensamble Arsis, who integrate bandolas and tiples into their sound, or Las Guaguas del Pank, a band from Pasto that came to Bogotá through exchanges with the Galeras rock festival, the one Mixture of punk and Nariño sounds.
Bogotá, November 12, 2023. Simón Bolívar Metropolitan Park hosts the second day of the Rock al Parque 2023 festival weekend.
Photo:
Sergio Acero Yate / El Tiempo
“We are all involved here. That’s the beauty of metal. Today, in 2023, we still identify with these suits. Now this Bambuco is dancing,” demanded the singer of Ensamble Arsis this Sunday.
Rock al Parque’s audience also tends to manifest itself as a collective, as the conscience of the city’s youth, with an opinion and even political positions that become choirs. This year was no exception: in front of the barriers that separate the audience from the artists, visitors built a fence that was over 20 meters wide. His message demanded: “Liberate Palestine.” According to columnist Santiago Rivas – and festival-goers – via People, however, they stand firm.”
The second day was completely different, with the punk bands setting out their political messages in presentations, such as that of the 20-year-old punk band Desgobierno, who made their usual jibes at previous governments during their presentation: “Always anarchists.” “Never on the right,” the singer “Vejete” gave a speech.
In contrast, some participants noted that the volume levels processed on each stage sometimes caused the sound of a presentation on the Bio stage to overlap with the sound of the Eco stage.
Closing out this Monday are Aterciopelados and Los Auténticos Decadentes on the main stage; with El Kanka, Cabra and Julieta Venegas in the biography and with Los Arboles in the eco.
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