By José Gandue @Gandour Photo by Simona Malaika @simonamalaika
This year, as I mentioned in a previous article, I wasn't in the best physical condition to face the festival, but even so, I knew I wanted to go. When I arrived early on Saturday and stood for a few minutes in front of the Plaza stage, I held back my tears for a while. I was excited, but because of those silly adult things, I didn't let anyone see my elation, especially not after seeing a metal band. It was a very personal triumph, and I wanted to avoid at all costs being treated like a victim or something similar, particularly by people I didn't know very well. I was happy to have reached my own personal Ithaca., But I had gone to Simón Bolívar to see bands, to fulfill a journalistic duty, and not to try to stand out among so many artists who deserved more attention. So, back to work. I also want to thank everyone who kindly came over to say hello, those who helped during awkward moments, and especially those who made me laugh, preserving the bright spirit that the festival atmosphere deserves.
2018 was a good edition. Not the most brilliant, but it had its remarkable moments. This year I've come to understand that the festival's success, curiously, doesn't depend on whether they brought in this or that artist. Rock al Parque has rarely failed spectacularly in its lineup, and this year was far from that. Personally, I can disagree with some aspects of the curation, especially the lower participation of Latin American bands., But I cannot deny that there is an effort to remain relevant in the genres presented and the risks taken., Knowing that there is a very limited budget and bureaucratic complications worthy of a public system that complicates its own decisions. If I feel there was a strange mistake: Pussy Riot. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't believe in these projects that offer shows in different parts of the world simultaneously. I don't know if it was naiveté during the booking process or if the organizers were fully aware this was going to happen. In any case, the audience ended up disappointed. There were discussions on social media with the Russian girls themselves, where some fans even asked if what they'd sent to Bogotá was their third-rate show, ignoring the number of attendees and the prestige of the festival they were attending, preferring to put on a more complete show in Edinburgh, surely in front of a much smaller crowd. It's a strange situation, and it wouldn't hurt to hear an explanation.
It was a varied, diverse, and colorful festival. And there, having that as a strength, is where I feel that the organizing institution makes incomprehensible mistakes in its presentation. It is undeniable that this year there was a decrease in overall attendance and in media coverage. The problem, and I want to emphasize this point, was not the lineup. The problem lies in the promotional approach given to Rock al Parque, which simply repeats what happens but fails to convey the necessary message. It's incredible that those within the Bogotá Mayor's Office don't understand that the festivals held in the park (and this one specifically) are unique in the world and deserve to be promoted as examples of coexistence for all the city's inhabitants, regardless of whether they like the musical styles showcased or not., They should feel proud of such a cultural, political, civic, and social event. Rock al Parque is promoted with overly obvious, narrow, and limiting elements, employing outdated and archaic notions of what rock music is, from the imagery on its posters to its slogans. The festival isn't just for radicals who will always define the genre in an antiquated and even fascist way: it's for everyone in the city who wants to enjoy good music, and who, surely, if we give them the opportunity to be properly invited, Each of them will find at least one band to enjoy on their tour of the festival.
I'll stick with the performances of the Congolese Jupiter & Okwess, the elegance of Dancing Mood, the enjoyment of Chico Trujillo, and the sonic delight of Liniker E Los Caramelow. Due to physical limitations, I missed Lee Ranaldo Trio, Bala, Kadavar and the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. There will be other opportunities, I hope. In any case, I'm already looking forward to being much better for Rock al Parque 2019, so I can really jump around like the occasion deserves.
P.S. Special thanks to our team, to Simona Malaika, to Clara Sofia Arrieta and especially to my friend and therapist Maria Camila Martínez, who was by my side (and that of other injured rockers, hahaha) and enjoyed her first Rock al Parque from beginning to end., giving me more reasons to be happy.
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