In Hindsight: An Honest Review of Festival Cordillera 2024

It’s been over a month since Bogotá’s fresh and recurring Festival Cordillera brought together music lovers from across Latin America, yet we’re still reflecting on the festival’s profound impact—not just musically, but environmentally. As one of Colombia’s premier music festivals, Cordillera has set itself apart as a beacon of sustainability, leading the way in green practices and usage of renewable energies within the entertainment industry.

With performances from top artists like Juan Luis Guerra, Fonseca, and Molotov, the festival captivated over 65,000 attendees, while simultaneously showcasing a visionary approach to eco-conscious event planning. This effort ties into Colombia’s broader role as a global leader in sustainability, a reputation further solidified by hosting the UN’s COP 16 Biodiversity Conference in Cali this month, a critical event that highlights the urgent need to preserve our planet’s ecosystems.

As far as the musical component of the event, here are some of the performances we were able to catch:

Los Mirlos

The undisputed Kings of Amazonian Cumbia set sonic fire to the small yet cozy Cocuy stage. With a showcase of intergenerational dance hits like “Cariñito”, “La Danza del Petrolero” and “Eres Mentirosa” , Los Mirlos captured the crowd’s attention with their blend of psychedelic Peruvian chicha and traditional cumbia rhythms. It was a perfect warm-up for the journey ahead, and their infectious rhythms were also a reminder of the deep cultural connections between Peru and Colombia.

Bersuit Vergarabat

Even though it was after their most iconic number “Señor Cobranza“, we managed to catch the last couple of tunes of Bersuit Vergarabat‘s set, which were the crowd-pleasers “La Bolsa” and “Un Pacto”. Despite this delay, the energy of the crowd was palpable, and Bersuit brought their signature irreverence and intensity to the stage. The show starred the band’s usual carnivalesque ska-rock vibes, plus a run of greetings between the audience and lead singer Gustavo Cordera.

Juliana

One of the freshest faces on the scene, Juliana proved why she’s being touted as one of Colombia’s future vocal powerhouses. Her performance was theatrical and drenched in the rich sounds of R&B, pop, as well as Colombia’s diverse musical landscape. As the last song ended, she made a well-deserved mention of her choreography team, which delivered a very professional show on stage. With her powerful voice and emotive stage presence, the Latin Grammy-winning singer has firmly planted herself as an artist to watch.

The Skatalites

Legendary Jamaican band The Skatalites were one of the undisputed highlights of the whole festival. Their live performance was a shining delivery of ska standards, featuring their signature instrumental prowess. The piece “Latin Goes Ska” was a standout, blending various rhythms and showcasing rich instrumental solos. For fans of the genre, this was an unmissable performance by an unequivocally esteemed band, which stood shoulder to shoulder with the day’s blockbuster names.

Juan Luis Guerra

The merengue master Juan Luis Guerra delivered exactly what everyone went for, a marathon of timeless hits that had the crowd in raptures. In the midst of the sing-alongs and encores, the performance of the song “La Noviecita” was one of the standout musical moments. This 2023 release is a glossy dancefloor firecracker, with a colourful and catchy melody that could only come from Guerra’s authorship. The track slipped into the set perfectly, proving that the legend still knows how to keep his sound fresh and exciting.

Instituto Mexicano del Sonido

IMS/MIS continues to prove why music fans keep praising it as one of the most compact live acts of the continent. While Camilo Lara’s main band has become a regular fixture in Bogotá’s music scene over the last couple of decades, his performances remain nothing short of electrifying. From the moment the set opened with the energetic “Mi T-Shirt de la NASA”, the eclectic sounds and high-energy performance had the crowd hooked. Other longtime hits like “Mexico” and “El Micrófono” took the audience on a sonic and visual journey through the fusion of cumbia, electronic beats, and witty social commentary that define IMS. Throughout the performance there was a great spirit of fraternity, given the vast sonic and cultural connections between Mexico and Colombia. Also, Lara’s charisma and ability to ignite the crowd with infectious rhythms made this show one of the highlights of the event.

Omara Portuondo & La Falide Orquesta

Omara Portuondo graced the stage with a vocal presence that seemed to debunk her 93 years of age. Despite the fact that she was sitting, and some natural signs of mental fatigue, her voice remained a force of nature—rich, powerful, and full of life. Watching her perform Cuban classics like “Lucio, que toque la conga”, “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás”, “Dos Gardenias”, and “Bésame Mucho” was like stepping into a time capsule of Cuban music history. Her performance felt both surreal and deeply emotional, especially against the backdrop of a warm Sunday afternoon.

Rooted in the legendary sound of the Buena Vista Social Club, Omara’s voice mesmerized the crowd, supported by the equally stellar La Failde Orquesta, whose sharp arrangements complemented her vocals perfectly. This was one of those rare, heart-stirring moments that reminded everyone present of the timeless power of music and the legacy of Cuban son and bolero.

La Maldita Vecindad

La Maldita Vecindad brought their unmistakable fusion of Mexican rock and ska to the festival, igniting a rebellious fire in the crowd, while still managing to keep the peaceful vibes. The band’s raw energy and powerful performance reminded everyone why they are still one of Latin America’s most influential rock bands. Their performance included the participation from members of Pasto’s Blacks and Whites’ Carnival, which is known for showcasing mastodon-sized floats on the traditional parades at the start of the year. As for the band’s set, it was filled with classics like “Pachuco” and “Kumbala”, delivering a thrilling nostalgia trip, while also bringing in younger fans who were experiencing the band’s magic live for the first time.

La Derecha

La Derecha, one of Bogotá’s iconic rock bands, delivered a tight and electrifying set. Known for their socially conscious lyrics and tunes that blend rock n’ roll with more local vibes, the band brought sonic edge and power to the Cotopaxi tent. The crowd especially loved their anthem “Ay Que Dolor”, which resonated strongly with its catchy rhythm and witty lyrics. The performance was a reminder of La Derecha’s lasting influence on Colombia’s alternative rock scene, and it featured fellow Bogotá-based musicians, such as Alejandro Gomes-Casseres of the iconic band Ciegossordomudos.

Usted Señálemelo

Argentinan band Usted Señálemelo delivered a very tight performance that showcased why they’ve cultivated such a strong following in Colombia and the rest of the continent. The band’s mix of alternative rock and experimental sounds really caught our attention, as the lead singer even took a moment to apologize to their fans for the “long one-year wait” since their last show in the city. It’s safe to say that the group made up for the lost time with this powerful set.

Trueno

Hailing from Buenos Aires, Trueno is one of the most exciting voices in Latin American rap today, and his performance at Cordillera was nothing short of explosive. After a few years following his career through platforms like the Hip-Hop al Parque livestreams and watching his show at the FEP 2023, we made sure to arrive on time, as we knew this was one to keep an eye on.

With sharp lyrics, killer flows, and a dynamic stage presence, his set mixed old-school hip-hop beats with Latin rhythms. His ability to weave socially conscious messages into his songs also make him a standout. Tracks like “TRANKY FUNKY”, “F*ck el Police” and the 2024 summer hit “REAL GANGSTA LOVE”, had the crowd singing along, confirming his status as a leader in the new wave of Latin rap. Trueno’s energy was infectious, making his set one of the top highlights for day two.

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs might have also brought a sense of déjà vu, given their 2022 appearance at the same festival and stage, but unlike that time, they kicked things off with the fiery anthem “Mal Bicho”. From that moment on, the crowd was fully locked in as always, as the band tore through their legendary catalogue. Vicentico and Sr. Flavio commanded the stage with their usual charisma, proving once again that LFC is a timeless force in Latin rock and ska. Their set felt like a celebration of the band’s enduring legacy, packed with fan favorites such as “V Centenario”, “Calaveras y Diablitos”, “Vasos Vacíos”, “Matador” and many more.

Cordillera 2024 was a resounding success in both its musical offerings and its sustainability efforts. However, there were a couple of missed opportunities worth noting. The absence of the iconic “Plaza” stage, a cornerstone of other major festivals like Rock al Parque and Estéreo Picnic, was felt by some attendees. While the logistics were on point and it’s understandable that these decisions were made given that this is an event with a smaller, more regional appeal than the other two, the park did seem less broad and harder to walk through than in other occasions.

Additionally, the scheduling made it tough to catch performances from some of our most esteemed artists like Canalón de Timbiquí and Lalo Cortés, with some acts slotted too early for many festival-goers’ logistics. While balancing set times with artist stats and mass appeal is no easy feat, offering a more varied time roster could tap into the evolving cultural momentum—one where niche audiences and personalized experiences are becoming increasingly significant. It’s definitely a challenge, but responding to these shifts could make future editions even more dynamic and inclusive.

Overall this edition of the event left a positive and lasting impression, with its unique blend of music, sustainability, and cultural pride. As we reflect on an event that brought the best of Latin America to Bogotá, it’s clear that this festival is not only a celebration of artistry but also a model for green practices in the entertainment industry. The dynamic performances, coupled with a visionary approach to eco-conscious event planning, have set a high bar for what festivals can achieve when creativity and responsibility align.

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