Rock al Parque is a free rock music festival which has taken place in Bogotá, Colombia, since 1995. It typically gathers more than 50 bands and as many as 400,000 spectators. It is considered the largest rock festival in Colombia and one of the most important in Latin America. Its programme also includes ska, punk, hardcore, metal, and other genres.

Rock al Parque
GenreHeavy metal, punk rock, rock
Location(s)Bogotá, Colombia
Years active1995–present
Attendance400,000+ (2014)
WebsiteOfficial Website (in Spanish)

History edit

 
Rock al Parque 2008

The first edition of the Rock Al Parque festival was held in Bogotá, 26–29 May 1995. It started as a continuation of the 'Youth Music meetings' held at the city's planetarium in 1992. The people behind the organization were Mario Duarte, Julio Correal and Bertha Quintero. They initially sought to gain the support of Bogota's Institute of Culture and Tourism, to help establish the festival. It was held across several venues including 'La Media Torta', Simón Bolívar Park, the 'Olaya Herrera' stadium, and the 'Santa María Bullfighting' ring. The last venue asked for admission fees, and was excluded after 1996 to keep the festival free of charge.

The rock music festival gradually included other genres, such as punk, reggae, ska and blues music. Rather than grouping genres together, the festival's organizers promoted diversity by scheduling different types of musicians to participate alongside one another.

Nowadays[when?] the festival takes place over three days at Simon Bolivar Park and is broadcast live over public television channel Canal Capital and public radio network Radiónica.

The sale of alcohol at Rock al Parque is prohibited, as is smoking, despite the fact that the event takes place outdoors. Concertgoers are not allowed entry if they are wearing belts with metallic buckles, as these can be used as weapons. Furthermore, all concertgoers have to go through a routine security inspection before entering the concert grounds. Concerts are scheduled between 1:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

Participants edit

The festival features national and international bands of different genres. After 1997, artists were selected by a jury after an open multi-stage process (pre-selection, presentation and live auditions). Prizes are awarded to the selected bands, who also gain media exposure and opportunity to share a stage with international bands. Some acts are directly invited by the organizing committee. In its first 15 years, the festival brought 473 artists to 3,092,000 attendees. The 1997 edition of the festival had the largest number of acts, with 87 bands, while the 2002 edition had the fewest, with 25. On average, 51.6 bands have performed annually at Rock al Parque. The 2004 edition, which marked the festival's 10th anniversary, had over 400,000 spectators.[1]

International musicians edit

The festival has hosted to a number of musical artists from other countries, including:

Country Invited Bands
Argentina Siete Delfines, Divididos, Luis Alberto Spinetta, A.N.I.M.A.L., Timmy O´ Tool, Divididos, Mississippi Blues Band, Cabezones, Botafogo, Carajo, Catupecu Machu, Auténticos Decadentes, Karamelo Santo, Todos tus Muertos, Miranda!, Babasónicos, Turf, Los Pericos, Azafata, Horcas, La Mosca Tse Tse, Capri, Fito Páez, Árbol, Los Cafres, Andres Calamaro, Charly García, Eruca Sativa, Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas, Jaque Reina, malón, Juana Molina, Capsula, Gustavo Cordera y la Caravana Mágica.
Belgium Aborted
Bolivia Octavia
Brazil Niños Con Bombas,[2] Eminence, Ratos de Porão, Lenine, Black Drawing Chalks, Krisiun, Sepultura
Chile Chancho en Piedra, Criminal, Floripondio, Funkreal, Niños Con Bombas,[2] Dracma, The Ganjas, Gondwana, Guiso, Los Bunkers, Los Tetas, Surtek Collective, Los Mox!, Lucybell, Hoppo!, Gepe, Los Miserables, Banda Conmoción, Sinergia
Costa Rica Las Robertas
Denmark Nekromantix
Ecuador La Trifulca, Rocola Bacalao, Sal y Mileto, Obscura, Muscaria, SIQ, Cruks en Karnak, Descomunal, Sudakaya, Prime Ministers
El Salvador Adhesivo, Easy Easy
Finland Apocalyptica
France Manu Chao, Sergent Garcia, Ina Ich, Dub Incorporation
Germany Niños Con Bombas,[2] Haggard, Destruction, Atari Teenage Riot, Atom Tm.
Guyana Mad Professor
Israel Melechesh
Italy Blonde Redhead
Jamaica The Skatalites, Ky-Mani Marley, Black Uhuru, Junior Kelly
Japan Blonde Redhead
Netherlands Laberinto Epica
Mexico Café Tacvba, Fobia, Jaguares, Maldita Vecindad, Molotov, Panda, Resorte, Telefunka, Kinky, Austin TV, Riesgo de Contagio, Los Concorde, Panteón Rococó, Brujería, División Minúscula, Zoé, Plastilina Mosh, Control Machete, Julieta Venegas, Elis Paprika, Thermo, La Lupita, Guillotina, Ely Guerra, Las Víctimas del Doctor Cerebro, Finde, Quiero Club, El Gran Silencio, Volován, Nortec, Dildo, Inspector, Instituto Mexicano del Sonido, The Warning, Hello Seahorse!, Rebel Cats, Hoppo, Frikstailers, Agora, La Gusana Ciega, Juan Cirerol, Celso Piña, Los Viejos
Panama Cienfue, Filtro Medusa, Señor Loop
Peru La Sarita, Libido, Zopilotes, Huelga de hambre
Poland Behemoth, Vader, Decapited
Portugal Buraka Som Sistema, Fischerspooner
Puerto Rico Puya, Robi Draco Rosa
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars
South Africa Blk Jks
Spain La Kinky Beat, Seguridad Social, Fritanga, Kop, Tom Cary, Def con Dos, Vita Imana, Los toreros muertos, Delorean, Siniestro Total, Vita Imana, Nacho Vegas, Vetusta Morla, Soziedad Alkoholika, Against The Waves.
Switzerland Samael
United Kingdom Paradise Lost, Carcass, Bloc Party, Asian Dub Foundation, Anti-Nowhere League, Skindred, Steel Pulse, GBH
United States Exodus, Dead Kennedys, D.R.I., Overkill, Draco Rosa, Coheed And Cambria, Earth Crisis, Fear Factory, Have Heart, Suicidal Tendencies, VHS or BETA, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Volumen Cero, Agent Steel, Death by Stereo, Anthrax, Día de los Muertos, Monstrosity, Morbid Angel, Mutemath, Shadows Fall, Biohazard, A Place to Bury Strangers, Stick To Your Guns, Cold Cave, NOFX, Inquisition, The Dillnger Escape Plan, Saul Williams, Corpse, Symphony X, Downset, Living Colour, Bosnian Rainbows, Nile, Fishbone, Outernational, Blonde Redhead, Black Label Society, aro-in, Nuclear Assault, Total Chaos, POD, The Coup, Nortec Collective, Adrenaline Mob, Ill Niño, Napalm Death, The Black Dahlia Murder, Sick Of It All, Deafheaven, Baroness
Uruguay Cuarteto De Nos, No te va gustar
Venezuela Claroscuro, Los Amigos Invisibles, Desorden Público, Plomo, Pan, Agresión, Los Oceánicos, Sur Carabela, Caramelos de Cianuro, King Changó, Papashanty, Spías, Zapato 3, Chuck Norris, Candy 66, Dischord, Los Mentas.

References edit

  1. ^ Rock al Parque Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c Redacción, EL TIEMPO (October 23, 1998). "Tres ángelitos que juegan con material musicalmente explosivo" [Three little angels that play with musically explosive material]. El Tiempo (Colombia) (in Spanish). Retrieved September 10, 2017.

External links edit