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Posted on 11/13/2010 at 7:30 AM

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[LEARNMORE] Ari de Barros, 53, has heard it all: so many musical memories that, off the top of his head, he hesitates to choose the most remarkable editions and performances of Ferrock. He prefers to stay neutral. Since 1985, this dedicated rocker has been fine-tuning one of the longest-running festivals in the Federal District. He defends the "candango" rock scene with such devotion that he feels uneasy when he hears accusations that Brasília's music scene has lost its edge compared to the vibrant 1980s. "Rock still beats strong here," he declares confidently. "New bands emerge all the time, everywhere: in Gama, Recanto das Emas, Riacho Fundo, Ceilândia. There’s definitely a buzz, even if it doesn’t gain national attention," he says.

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The stigma of being the "capital of rock" might seem outdated, but for the producer, Brasília’s guitars still retain their old knack for diversity. That’s why, to celebrate Brasília’s 50th anniversary and Ferrock’s 25th (an event from Ceilândia that combines music and social projects), he planned a tribute to the local rock scene in an unconventional way. Among the 27 bands scheduled to perform over the festival's three days — today, tomorrow, and Monday at Praça do Trabalhador — 24 hail from the cerrado region. Even more surprising is that most of these acts have retired from the stage: bands returning (perhaps for just one night) to celebrate the past. Among them are 1980s gems like Finis Africae, 5 Generais, and Mel da Terra.

 

The “dinosaur gathering” (as the organizer himself puts it) began being planned ten years ago, and only one invitee, Vênus da Grande Maçã, backed out. In May, Ari organized a special Ferrock edition featuring international bands Napalm Death and Suffocation. But the real challenge was yet to come. "Many people advised me to give up on the project. They said the musicians were tired and didn’t care about rock anymore," Ari recalls. "But I appealed to their emotions. When I told them stories about Ferrock, their eyes lit up," he recounts. Some admitted feeling "rusty" and short on rehearsal time. But they accepted the challenge, reuniting old friends or introducing new lineups. Joining them were only three outsiders from São Paulo: Casa das Máquinas, Made in Brazil, and Nasi (formerly of Ira).

 

Resistance The selection criteria for this “revival” edition didn’t exclude active bands. But even then, Ari prioritized those who had contributed most to the cause. Among this lineup of invited acts, including names like Elffus and ARD, none have less than 15 years of history. Invitation by invitation, Ari assembled a sonic gallery that spans from the late 1970s (with Marciano Sodomita) to the 1990s (Os Cachorros das Cachorras, Nata Violeta, Kaos Klitoriano). "It’s a very welcome idea. The festival shows, among other things, that Brasília’s rock wasn’t just about that crew from Colina. And that it never ended: it’s always evolving," observes flutist and vocalist Paulo Mattos from Mel da Terra.

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Still the Capital of Rock: Members of the bands performing at Ferrock gather for a photo. The Ferrock tradition weighed heavily on the success of the event. Maintaining consistency — and engagement — is one of the festival’s most remarkable traits, bravely supporting a format that continues to bring improvements to Ceilândia’s population. "The social aspect is so much more important that I hardly even remember the bands that played at the festival," says Ari. The festival’s very name summarizes the ideals of the group of 15 friends who, in a shack at QNP 13, laid the foundations of the project: faith, rock, and revolution. Today, the organizer still clings to that concept. "Organizing a festival isn’t easy, but when you’ve been doing it for so long, you start overcoming some hurdles and it becomes part of history. That makes things easier," he acknowledges. "Today I live exclusively for my family, social work, and Ferrock," he says. A taste for resilience that, like Brasília’s rock scene, hasn’t been left behind in nostalgia.

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FERROCK REVIVAL
Today, tomorrow, and Monday, starting at 2 PM, at Praça do Trabalhador, in front of Ceilândia’s Regional Administration. Admission: 2kg of non-perishable food. Info: www.ferrock.org. Not recommended for those under 12 years old.