The Central Peru Festival, to take place in Huancayo on July 29 and 30, lost a total of 25 artists who were going to perform*; 54% of the total lineup. Most of those who canceled their participation, such as the Peruvians Gala Brie, Jaze, Los Yacks; as well as the foreigners La Garfield, Ruzzi, Dulce y Agraz, Arde la sangre and He killed a motorized policeman; they point out problems in the organization of the event.
In an interview with El Comercio on Thursday morning, June 28, Janet Amaya, manager of the organizing company, acknowledged that it was a mistake to accept “too many bands.” “I am a music teacher. My students are my partners. My students who were in charge of doing the hiring part accepted too many bands. that was a mistake“, said.
Through its account on the social network Instagram, Peru Central said that it will start a “reimbursement process for the absence of the previously announced artists” and that “now they will no longer be with us.” Since when will these returns occur? “There have been purchases that are quite reliable, such as the Joining. If they have bought there, they will be attended to at the time”, the organizer told this newspaper.
Additionally, Amaya says that there were bands that complained about the hours in which they were located and the time they were going to play (15 minutes). “They start calling me to say ‘I don’t agree, how am I going to be in that position, I want to be later [cerca al headliner]’. (…) The first problem was that, crushing the technical director, Max Ochoa, a specialized engineer who does events in Lima. So they make war on him, they tell him they don’t want to be there and they get off. They get cocky and start to get down [del evento]”, said Amaya, who is also an artist and was going to appear at the event, but assures that she will no longer do so.
In the first communication with the organizer, she insisted that, despite the problems, the event will continue. “Here are very good logistics. (…) I love music very much, but someone who tries to undertake is not treated like that. This is great, it will happen.”, highlighted Amaya.
The gangs claim
A source with first-hand information who preferred not to reveal his name told this newspaper that, a year ago, in his participation contract, they promised him a show with a certain duration; but that in the tentative itinerary he received a week before the show he was given less than half the time they signed up for. “There, at the same time, you can see that everything is glued together, impossible to spend more time on someone else without harming the next. From there you see the lack of vision“, held.
This medium knows he spoke with two artists, who preferred not to reveal their identity, who were notified on Wednesday, July 27, that their bus to Huancayo would leave that same night. One of these artists tells that he spent at least 17 hours on the bus; a route that normally lasts from 7 to 9 hours. “I am only going for the public with which I have a commitment“, said.
For a musician to do his job, he needs a sound check. Gala Brie, one of the artists who canceled her show, says that she asked for the test in her contract, which would take place on Thursday the 28th in the afternoon; however, she had information that her bus to Huancayo would leave that same day at night. Thus, it is impossible to perform the test. The singer highlights that there was no coordination on the part of the organizer, because she did not receive the tickets, they did not tell her where she would stay and, three days before the festival, they paid her 50% of what was agreed, but that they could not pay her everything; she asked for a discount, she maintained.
Likewise, Gala Brie responds to Amaya’s words. “We have not dropped out because we were smug, but because they were not complying with a contract signed months ago or with the minimum conditions of organization, seriousness and respect towards me, my project, my musicians and my team. The same with many colleagues”held.
Additionally, one of the headliners, He killed a motorized policeman, left the event on Saturday morning, the 29th, one day before his presentation. “The production of the Central Peru Festival did not comply with what was agreed and that prevents us from traveling to Peru. The same thing happened with most of the musicians and bands that were going to participate, complete disrespect and lack of response. We really wanted to go back but that will be for later, soon more information about it”.
For his part, Walter Cobos, from the band Neither voice nor vote, endorsed the following statement from the band Actitud Modulado:
*They have canceled their participation (updated information until 8:00 am on Friday 29):
July 29
- The Garfield (Mexico)
- Ruzzi (Peru)
- Gala Brie (Peru)
- Modulated attitude (Peru)
- Naia Valdez (Peru)
- Diego Trip (Peru)
- Lunar Pats (Peru)
- Somontano (Peru)
- Wanderlust (Peru)
- Jaze (Peru)
- Fabiana Brenner (Peru)
- Midget Captain (Peru)
- Janet Amaya (Peru)
- Indigo (Peru)
- Alejandro and Maria Laura (Peru)
July 30
- The blood burns (Argentina)
- Sweet and Agraz (Chile)
- Neither voice nor vote (Peru)
- D’common mind (Peru)
- Andrea Martinez (Peru)
- The Yacks (Peru)
- Elevator ship (Peru)
- POOOW! (Peru)
- Dan Dan Dero (Peru)
- Sebastian Gereda ‘DOMA’ (Peru)
- Skillbea (Peru)
- The Sheriff (Peru)
- Yardigans (Peru)
- Emergency Blanket (Perú)
- Laser Rays (Argentina)
- Santa Madero (Peru)
- The minor leagues (Argentina)
- He killed a motorized policeman (Argentina)