By José Gandue @Gandour Photo by Karin Richter @Karin Richter
This hasn't been my favorite edition of Rock al Parque, but I'm sure that It's the one I've enjoyed the most in many years. I confirmed it when I listened Take my bones away of Baroness And I realized that the festival, in its twenty-second year, was drawing to a close. The conversations taking place at that moment in the press area of the Bio stage They were about satisfaction, pleasure, about taking a pleasant stocktaking. and to understand that, despite all the internal problems of the festival, the apathy of those ultimately responsible for the event (including Mayor Enrique Peñalosa himself), the absurd budget reduction, and the warnings of some experts who weren't even able to show their faces at Simón Bolívar Park, Rock al Parque 2016 It had been a joyful event with pleasant results.
Rock al Parque has contributed, once again, to growth of independent journalism through new media, And where the most recent generations of journalists have committed to the city's music scene, giving local artists a platform to showcase their work more widely. Personally, I've enjoyed the coverage of Talent Nation, Sono Magazine, Noise and others, who have complied with to give prominence to Colombian and Latin American culture, and not simply stop at naming artists of North American and European origin.
The work carried out by the public company Capital Channel It has been, along with Canal Trece and City TV, finally, worthy of one of the world's leading festivals. It's ironic, but the new people in charge of this media outlet understood Rock al Parque better than the director of Idartes himself., Juan Angel, responsible for organizing the festival, who on several occasions and in a repeated and careless manner commented in his meetings with the attendees that What was happening at Simón Bolívar bored and overwhelmed him. The question one might ask at this point is, if this happens, and surely it is repeated with other major activities of your institution, Why does he still hold that position?
We criticized the lineup of artists for this edition at the time. We said so: It lacked a bit more risk, a bit more of an avant-garde presence, But at the same time, we must acknowledge that we feel that There was a variety of colors and sounds at the festival. We went from the good presentation of the metal band Perpetual Warfare, up to the neo-folkloric delight of Bambarabanda, from the bold irony of Pig Buddies, even the exquisite pop of Danicattack, from the absolute control of the stage and its fans by Elephants, ...even the weight and confidence acquired by Puerto Candelaria through his years of experience and travels around the world, staged in an unforgettable show.
Rock al Parque It's a festival with many enemies, including media personalities who accuse the event of ridiculous things such as this free, public event being responsible from the cancellation of poorly executed private ventures like Lollapalooza Colombia. One must be very out of touch with reality to say that. Others, contemporary Malinches, who, from their radio platforms, resorting to a pestilent verbal poison, shout that it is only private competitions that sponsor their words and their commercial programming, the only ones who have made the Colombian scene grow. Rock al Parque, on the contrary, has meant that anyone who talks about the country's experience with large concerts has to remember that in Bogotá, like no other city in the world, for more than two decades, a festival open to everyone has been held., where hundreds of thousands of people gather and where coexistence has been exemplary throughout its history. Denying it is simply incomprehensible.
I insist: Rock al Parque must be protected and to make it grow as an institution, so that it not only has 3 days of splendor at the Simón Bolívar stadium but can to set the course in the Bogota and Latin American scene for the rest of the year. We must prevent it from being privatized or contemptuously destroyed. It's a festival that It must always remain free and open access., Regardless of the political affiliation of the mayor in office, it is legally part of the Cultural Heritage of the Colombian capital and, as such, must be maintained. for the benefit of the citizens of this city and its visitors.
Finally, it is my responsibility, as director of Zonagirante.com, I would like to express my gratitude to many people, especially to this year's team, who She accompanied us with all the affection, professionalism and love that the work required and much more. The photographic work of Simona Malaika, Karin Richter, and Oscar Perfer was admirable and moving. The advice from afar provided by Rodrigo Morales was essential. And, to highlight, the always interesting, insightful, and brilliant contribution of my friend Santiago Rivas, who for some years now... He has been the ideal teammate for this job.
And to you, friends of Zonagirante.com, Thank you for reading, for criticizing, and for sharing our material with your circle of friends. We felt your presence throughout the festival And that made us truly happy during these days. A round of applause and a loving hug for all of you.
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