Witchtrap in Rock al Parque.

The already traditional biggest rock concert of Latin America, Rock al Parque in its 2010 version, was successful according to the organizers. The event cost 2,800 million pesos (1,472,771.26 US dollars) and a participation of 266 thousand persons during the three days of the concerts.

The 2010 was the 16th version of what is said the most important rock concert in the Latin American region that is celebrated annually in Bogotá. It supports however the local rock bands and the development of the Colombian rock, the leading reason to the creation of the event. There is also a rock competition that this year gathered 24 Colombian bands.

The international presence is also important for the concerts, especially bands from the American nations. Tree days of 11 daily hours of programs with an estimate of 56 thousand persons during the first day, 90 thousand during the second day and 120 thousand during the closing down the festival, according to the reports of the administration.

Photo ‘Aterciopelados in Rock al Parque 2007′ by Felimapa.

The event that is a creation of the Municipality of Bogotá through its Secretary of Culture and Sport and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogotá, was created 15 years ago and became one of the most noticeable rock events in Latin America.

The 21rst century rock

This year it will emphasis the new tendencies of rock in the 21rst century, with new concepts and new band groups, plus the homage to classic stars of rock.

The 16th edition of Rock al Parque (Rock to the Park) will be extended further than the three traditional days when thousands of rock funds from Latin American countries come to Bogotá to delight the free concerts of famous rock bands.

The proposal this year is to decentralize the program. It is to say, not to do it only in the Simon Bolívar Park but in other parts of the city with local rock concerts.

The Bogotanean pubs will participate this year as a strategy of recognition to their rock promotion of local and new bands, becoming traditional spaces of rock gatherings. Pubs applied during the year to be counted among the selected ones for the Latin American rock festival.

The Rock’s District

The rock market experience of The Rock’s District will continue also this year during the three festival’s days with the presence of national and international record levels.

The personality to receive homage this year by the Festival will be Chucho Merchán, the consecrated digital rock artist and his contribution to the rock development in Colombia.
If somebody thought that rock is a question of illiterate people, Rock al Parque will demonstrate that it is not true: the presence of a big number of scholar and their researches about the rock phenomena will be a part of the Festival. The thinking in questions like production, auto-production, new technologies, technical production of events and instrumental clinics will have space for discussions, reflections and proposals. Managers, programmers, distributors and many other persons related to rock are counted among the guests with the intention to qualify rock production.

Among international artists: Andrés Calamaro (Argentina), Ki-Many Marley (Jamaica), Mutemath (United States), Zoé (Mexico), Puya (Puerto Rico), Shadows Fall (US), Bioahazard (US), Samael (US), Def con Dos (Spain), A Place to Bury Stranger (US), Dub Incorporation (France), No te va a gustar (Uruguay), Hello Seahorse! (Mexico).

Among the national artists: Mojiganga (Medellín), Providencia (Medellín), Velandia y la Tigra (Santander), ACME (Ibagué), Fértil Miseria (Medellín), Cromlech (Medellín).

Artist from Bogotá: Estados Alterados, The Black Cat Bone, The Hall Effect, Alerta Kamarada, V for Volume, Desecreate, Pitbull, El Sin Sentido and The Mills.

The definitive program will be announce next week, because some of these artists have not confirmed their participation.

Diva Gash, Nawal, Pornomotora Superlitio and others from Colombia; Plastilina Mosh, Kinky, Ely Guerra and Molotov from Mexico and Argentinian Fito Páez are only some of the most popular names among lovers of rock who will perform.

The festival was created in 1994 with the goal of promoting national rock groups, but it became the most important event of rock in Latin America due to it’s scale. Free entrance is one of its conditions and from June 27 to 29  its anniversary will be celebrated in true form: with rock.

But security has been carefully contemplated by the organizers of the huge event. During the rock festival, liquor can not be consumed in the area from La Esperanza Avenue until the 68th Street and the 30th Street to the Rojas Avenue.

15 years of concerts

Between 1995 and 2008 the festival attracted 2,772,000 people and 406 national and international rock groups, according to official statistics. Although it has always been celebrated in the Metropolitan Square “Simón Bolívar”, it has had other stages like the Media Torta open theater, El Tunal Square, the Renaissance Square, the Olaya Herrera Stadium and the Bulls Plaza, all in Bogotá.

Here you can find the name of the rock groups that have performed at Rock al Parque since 1995, according to official data.

Life, All Our Respect!

The slogan of 2009 edition of Rock al Parque is “Life, All Our Respect” and promotes tolerance and respect, without discrimination of color, beliefs or nationalities.

This is the proposal:

* • To the Music, all respect
* • To the rock, all respect
* • To the city, all respect
* • To the water, all respect
* • To the land, all respect
* • To the others, all respect
* • To yourself, all respect
* • To everyone, all respect
* • In 2009 Rock al Parque… To the Life, all respect

Linking life, peace, tolerance and music, the festival celebrates Colombia and its people, especially those who come together to respect life.