By José Gandue @Gandour
Photo by Oscar Perfer
Another edition of Rock al Parque has come to an end. A festival that in its 21st edition has had some bright spots and quite a few dark ones, And although some media outlets and journalists, for reasons unknown, ask us not to engage in criticism, we feel it is pertinent to discuss a few things about it.
The first thing to say is that, above all the problems we saw, Fortunately, the music survived. It's a corny phrase, but amidst the organizational chaos and negligence of some festival organizers, At least there were some good moments on stage. Everyone has their favorite moments and can easily name them, which is why we need to keep the musicians out of most of our discussions. Fortunately, we were able to see Nortec Collective's farewell performance, the lysergic presence of Cápsula, an exciting surprise like Narcopsycotic, the rise of Pulenta, and a few other stimulating performances within the lineup. If one, as a spectator, goes to Rock al Parque looking for music and is unaware of the inconveniences surrounding the development of the event, one can have few complaints. The lineup for the 21st edition of the festival, while not up to par, had some interesting moments.
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Rock al Parque 2015 had one of the worst metal days in the festival's history. This isn't just my opinion, and I have little connection to the genre; it's been echoed by more than one fan and commentator knowledgeable about the subject. The selection of the jury for the competition was unfortunate, favoring outdated and poorly developed proposals. Meanwhile, the national and international guests didn't do much to clear the cobwebs. One journalist said, not without some justification, that the lineup was designed in such a way that all the bands seemed to be opening acts for the Polish band Behemoth. Amidst so much disappointment, The presentation of Sacred Goat can be highlighted favorably, A Bogota band that is gradually demonstrating its growth and is asking for attention in international circles.
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Here comes another cheesy phrase: The festival has long been organized by people who don't love it, and it shows.
Being the cultural event with the largest budget among all the activities of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá, It seems to be made more like a political (and politicking) contest than a true musical celebration for locals and visitors alike.. Just as they spared no expense last year, this time, with the mayor's job not at stake, they cut corners to ridiculous levels. It was evident in everything, even the most absurd details. Shameful things like the festival's main stage having a persistent nauseating smell due to the extremely limited number of portable toilets available to attendees (which, moreover, weren't cleaned frequently enough), or the grotesque arguments between artists and logistics staff over the lack of water after the concerts. Press room with extremely small spaces and not enough power outlets to work. There was almost no promotional or informational material in the park to show the performance schedule. And yes, something almost everyone noticed: constant sound problems, which affected both local and international artists. Is anyone properly monitoring the amplification contract? Twenty years after the first Rock al Parque festival, it still has problems worthy of a cheap carnival. A lack of passion, I insist.
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Despite all its shortcomings, Rock al Parque has a great historical capital to make international exchanges more interesting. The organizers of this festival, throughout its existence, have had enough excuses to negotiate with many institutions by recounting the origin of its constitution., ...being able to truthfully recount how this concert series came about to promote peace and coexistence among the citizens of a society burdened by violence. Any cultural development officer in institutions such as European consulates, public-private partnerships across continents, and similar organizations, You can use your resources to support the work of this event. All that's required is time and willingness to create the right opportunities.
Did you know that in 2004, when the tenth edition of the festival was being celebrated, a division of the United Nations, moved by the story of Rock al Parque, He offered the money to hire a renowned international band, provided that the group was committed to human rights causes. Even so, no one moved. Some remained passive because it affected their personal interests, others because they didn't know what to do, and still others because it didn't interest them. Well, the situation, many years later, remains the same., And yet we hear those in charge complaining about budgets and spending more than necessary on payments to intermediaries.
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We said it a few days ago. This was a transitional edition. In a few months, the district administration will change, and reforms to the city's cultural policy are expected. What might happen? I have no idea. No one can guarantee that those who come will do a better job. Culture, and more specifically what happens with the park festivals, is not a priority on any of the candidates' agendas. None of them have set foot in Simón Bolívar Park recently, and I'm sure more than one will say that what was happening there was just noise. None of them seem to believe in the potential for economic, social, and humanitarian transformation that culture holds for this city. They must think that, lacking bread, Rock al parque is simply a circus for the people. The apathy will surely continue, and this festival will only be useful and favored by the state coffers when the head of the mayor in office is in danger and needs the simulated support of the youth. This is life in the capital of the country of the Sacred Heart.
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