Rock Al Parque: What I learnt

So after months of anticipation and hype, Rock Al Parque finally came to Bogotá, bringing the crème de la crème of Colombian artists and some pretty big names from the international scene, too.

Rock Al Parque is notable for being the largest free music festival in Latin America, but there’s other quirks that set it apart from all the festivals I’ve been to before (and that’s a reasonable amount, FYI). Here’s 5 things I learnt about Rock Al Parque:

1. NO ALCOHOL If there’s one thing I was shocked by, it was the rule that there was no alcohol to be taken into, or consumed inside, the premises of Rock Al Parque. I assumed it’d be quite different from Reading Festival then, where you’re pretty much drunk for four days straight. Of course, I should have realized there’d be people wandering around selling the ubiquitous Colombian spirit Aguardiente on the sly…
2. NO BELTS One thing I was warned about beforehand was that I wouldn’t be allowed to wear a belt. I’ve lost weight since coming to Colombia, so this one was awkward for me. Still, in rock circles (even in Colombia) wearing your trousers half way down your legs is actually pretty fashionable, so I survived.
3. NO DANCING Ok I’ve gone for shock value because there was dancing, but I was curious before the festival to find out if people would be dancing with undulating hips as is usually the case in the clubs and bars here, but I was surprised to find a large contingent of the crowd adopting the dance moves of their European bretherin: hips locked, awkward half-jumps and one hand in the air, mysteriously pointing at the stage. I was home.
4. NO CHARGE Obviously I knew this before, but I’ve never been to a festival before with such a great selection of bands and not had to spend a penny. I took $2,000COL with me, just enough for the bus back. Last festival I went to cost me over $130 (US) and that’s not including accommodation and the flight to Barcelona…
5. NO MIMING I don’t know if it’s just me or a European thing or just the crowds at the gigs I like, but when I go and see a band people tend to only mime along, and if anyone sings they’re that guy annoying everyone else. Not so here. In Colombia you can barely hear the artists themselves for the noise of everyone in the crowd singing at the top of their lungs. Me stood there mouthing ‘somos pacifico, estamos unidos…’ thinking I was being respectful… Turns out I was that guy.

Undoubtedly my highlights were Bomba Estereo, Buraka Som Sistema (a surprise for me) and ChocQuibTown. If you ever get the chance I strongly recommend checking these artists out live. I should mention Fischerspooner too, because they were great, but the crowd’s reaction to the other artists was immense.

A thoroughly enjoyable weekend… Can’t wait for next year!

Paul