ROSARIO, THE BIRTHPLACE OF ARGENTINE ROCK
Argentine rock has followers all over the world and in this regard our city has produced many artists throughout history
At every turn, Rosario is a city of art and culture. Among the different artistic expressions of this city, rock is one of its most prolific, with an extensive affluent of local artists recognized worldwide who have left their mark on the history of this musical genre over the decades.
From Rosario to the world
The history of rock in Rosario backs back to the first half of the 1960s, when a group of musicians from Rosario created Los Gatos Salvajes, resulting in the first Spanish-language rock song. The band's singer, Litto Nebbia, began to write his own lyrics related to what was being spoken at that time on the city's streets.
The music movements coming out of Rosario were developing in parallel with those of large metropolises around the world. Local artists found widespread success, as was the case of Fito Páez and other performers known as La Trova Rosarina, a generation of musicians that emerged at the start of the 1980s in Rosario. Juan Carlos Baglietto, Jorge Fandermole, Silvina Garre, Adrián Abonizio, Fabián Gallardo, Rubén Goldín, Lalo de los Santos, Ethel Koffman and Héctor de Benedectis, among others, are some of the talented artists who stood out in that movement.
The birthplace of rock
Going back to these origins, the Deliberative Council of Rosario has recently declared the city as the "birthplace of Argentine rock." The goal of the proposal was to establish Rosario as a "rock city," taking into account the many contributions that Rosario musicians made to Argentine culture throughout history, as well as seeking to enhance the city's cultural profile and generate a new tourist attraction.
The ordinance promulgated by the Deliberative Council proposes to create a Rock Map, which consists of a georeferenced information system with a database containing the different places where rock first started and a brief description of its history. At the same time, these mythical places in Rosario’s cultural life will be linked to the city’s map and the referenced destinations will also be physically signposted with their corresponding signage.
The city as a stage
Rosario is continuously chosen by bands with international standing to perform their shows. In 2018, marking the 50th anniversary of the birth of Spanish rock, the first edition of the Bandera Festival was held. The most important and popular bands at the time participated in this event dedicated to the dissemination of Argentine rock.
Likewise, on the 21st of every September—the first day of Spring in Argentina—Primavera Joven, a showcase for the city's emerging rock bands of the city to compete and launch their musical careers is held before a crowd of thousands of students. (This well-attended event coincides with the national Student Day, widely celebrated by high school students who don't have classes that day.)
Promoting the culture of rock
Rosario also has a municipal space called Galpón de la Música, located in an old warehouse (No. 11) in the old port of Rosario. Since its inception, it has been a great alternative for young rock musicians in need of a space to perform their music live. Over the years, this space has established itself as one of the references of today's rock culture. In this space, the School of Rock was opened in 2007. Its five-workshop program for young people between the ages of 15 and 25 offers them an experience similar to that of forming an independent band.
We know that music knows no borders and has a unique language, which unites us and identifies us at the same time. Rosario—the birthplace of Argentine rock—offers multiple proposals for those who want to discover and get carried away by the culture of rock.
