August 27, 2015

Colombia’s Music Scene Heats Up

Last week, more than 350,000 music lovers gathered in Bogotá’s Simón Bolívar Park for the 21st edition of Rock al Parque, a three-day music festival that brings together bands from around the world, including the United States, Chile, Argentina and many others. The festival, which began in 1995, stands as an expression of the promotion and respect of civic culture and social transformation, and has become an icon of Bogotá’s vibrant international music scene.

Under this year’s theme, “Culture of Peace,” the festival brought together 74 national, local and international bands and focused on encouraging respect for difference and coexistence. Aside from concerts and performances, the festival also features a series of lectures, workshops and panels designed around trends in music. This year, the festival offered 21 workshops and lectures that emphasized the use of digital tools and composition, among others.

For more information about Rock al Parque, click here.

Festival attendees gather in Simón Bolívar Park for Rock al Parque. Photo Credit: Juan Santacruz, Idartes.

Photo Credit: Rock al Parque website.

Colombian Artist Juanes Makes Tour Stop in DC On Saturday, Colombian artist Juanes performed a concert in Washington, DC, at DAR Constitution Hall. A part of his “Loco de Amor Tour,” the artist’s stop in the nation’s capital is the last U.S. concert until December, when he will finish the 18-concert tour with a performance in Orlando. A native of Medellín, Juanes is a two-time Grammy winner and has won 20 Latin Grammy awards. Formerly a member of the heavy metal band Ekhymosis, Juanes has earned international acclaim as a solo artist since his debut in 2000. His concert in Washington, DC came just days after a special performance at the United Nations for World Humanitarian Day, where Juanes introduced a new song written for the occasion, singing “[t]his world just needs more love.” For more information on Juanes, his U.S. tour and his music, visit http://www.juanes.net/.

A Spotlight on Colombian Musicians in the News

A song by Colombian salsa band Sonora Carruseles was featured as one of 40 songs on two of Spotify’s #POTUSPlaylists – President Obama’s summer music playlist. “For us, it's an

honor that an influential person such as the U.S. president is enjoying and having fun in his free time with the Colombian salsa of Sonora Carruseles,” said band member Daniel

Marmolejo.

Colombian artist Carlos Vives reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart with his first live effort, Mas + Corazon Profundo Tour: En Vivo Desde La Bahia De Santa Marta.

In interviews with NPR and The Huffington Post, Bomba Estéreo discussed the fusion of traditional Colombian music with electronic sounds in their new album, Amanecer, describing

the music’s “universal” appeal.

Ambassador Pinzón greets Juanes after his concert on Saturday in Washington, DC. Photo Credit:

Ambassador Pinzón Twitter Page.

Sankofa Danzafro Performs at 2015 Battery Dance Festival

From August 15 to August 21, New Yorkers gathered in Battery Park for the Battery Dance Festival. Presented by the Battery Dance Company, the festival gathers a range of artists and companies from around the world for a week of free, out door performances. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Battery Park Company, originally founded in 1976. During this year’s festival, Colombian dance group Sankofa Danzafro, travelling from Medellín, performed their New York debut. Founded in 1997 by Rafael Palacios, Sankofa has become a space dedicated to training and creativity in dance, with special focus on Afro-Colombian culture. For more information about Sankofa, click here.

Lollapalooza Announces Fall 2016 Festival in Colombia

At the end of July, Lollapalooza announced the debut of a festival in Bogotá, Colombia, in fall of 2016. The concert in Bogotá will be hosted in Simón Bolívar Park, and is the fifth Lollapalooza to be held outside of the United States, following annual festivals in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Germany beginning in 2011. In a Wall Street Journal article, Charlie Walker, a co-founder of C3 Presents, a Lollapalooza partner, explained the draw to Colombia, noting “…We look for super fast-growing, robust economies. There’s a press article every day about what’s happening in Colombia.” For more information, visit the Lollapalooza Colombia website.

The pop and rock music of Colombian stars like Shakira and Juanes is known throughout the world. But Colombia is also home to a rich and diverse array of other traditional music styles, including:

I n Case You M issed I t…

Dance group Sankofa performs during New York’s Battery Park Dance Festival. Photo Credit: Ministry of Culture of Colombia Twitter Page.

D id You K now…?

• Cumbia originated on the Atlantic Coast and dates back to the early 19th century. Influenced by African cultures, instruments used in cumbia include drums, the gaita (flute), claves and trombones, to name a few.

• Llanero is mostly performed along the plains east of the Andes Mountains between Colombia and

Venezuela. Well-known Colombian artists have popularized the genre with melodic and rhythmic virtuosity, percussive drive and sabor colombiano (or Colombian flavor).

• Vallenato is Colombia’s most popular form of

folk music. It combines the sounds of an accordion, the caja vallenata (a small drum), and the guacharaca (a wooden ribbed stick and fork). The word vallenato – “born in the valley” – originated in the valley between the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía de Perijá mountain ranges.

Other popular Colombian music genres include currulao and salsa.

Get to know Colombia. Learn more at www.colombiaemb.org.

Stay connected: @ColAmbPinzon or @PinzonBuenoEmb

Vallenato musician plays the accordion.