Colombia’s largest music festival, Rock al Parque, has more than 80 bands slated to play in Bogota from July 1-4.
The government-sponsored festival, which has attracted local and international bands to Colombia’s capital since 1995, will take place in two of Bogota’s public parks, Simon Bolivar and Parque Metropolitano, and in an open air theater, La Media Torta.
Rock al Parque initially started as a local festival to promote Bogota’s rock musicians, and has now become the most important music event for rock and alternative music in Colombia. This year’s event will have the largest representation of local musicians in the festival’s history.
Leonardo Garzon, the music director for Rock al Parque, told Colombia Reports that they are expecting more than 300,000 attendants this year.
Unlike many music festivals, Rock al Parque does not have an entry fee. Vendors are also prohibited from selling alcohol and tobacco products on concert grounds.
A variety of different genres are represented in this year’s lineup, including reggaeton, death metal, punk, hardcore, metalcore, dub, roots reggae, electronic and the emerging Latin American genre known as fusion, which mixes folk and rock sounds, to name a few.
The festival makes an effort to recruit up-and-coming bands from Colombia and surrounding Latin American countries. According to the musical director, Colombian bands to look out for are: Chocquibtown, Bomba Estereo, and Doctor Krapula.
The slogan for the 17th version of Rock al Parque is “Natural rock, natural life,” and Garzon said that activities at the festival area, aside from the music, will focus on recycling, waste management, and the environment.
For more information on the festival and the lineup, visit the Rock al Parque event website.
