BarısaRock Festival - İstanbul, 25-26 August 2007

www.barisarock.org

Rock for Peace Festival

In the age of globalisation, there are very few areas left which could resist penetration of commodification. A parallel process, called as globalisation, increased the speed of this penetration to different areas as well as to different countries. However, both of these processes equally enabled a global resistance movement. A variety of organisations, movements, initiatives, platforms from all around the world gained more opportunities to communicate and act together.

Considering these changes in our world, a group of activists gathered and began to organise a free music festival that also stands against wars, commodification of music and culture.

What is BarisaRock Festival?

It is a free festival that is taking place since 2003 in Istanbul. It is not just any free music festival but it is a festival against war, against invasion and invaders. It is a festival for peace. It is also a platform for those who have other social concerns, such as militarism, homophobia, racism and nationalism. It is not organised by professionals, but by volunteers. It is profit-free and there are no sponsors. It does not only have music, but also performances, seminars, conferences, workshops, meetings and gatherings.

The festival takes place for two days during August, with a camp site allowing participants to stay over night in the festival area.

The first year, there was 35 different bands, singers and performers. This number has increased to 44 in the second year, changed to 35 again on the third year. Last year, the organisation received 500 applications for performing on the main scene and could only accept 25 of them.

The festival received 5000 participants at its first year. The number increased to 10.000 during the second year, 35.000 on the third and reached an approximate number of 80.000 participants during last year.

It is formed out of a group of activists that are gathered around the idea of organising a festival for peace. There is no institutional participation and decisions are taken by consensus. Main expenses, such as the scene, field, sound system and security, are covered by the food and beverages sold during the festival. The festival begins and ends with zero capital in hand.

What we can offer, what we cannot?

Considering the global aspect of the issues that the festival is dealing, this year we are willing to enlarge the scope of the festival over the frontiers of Turkey. Therefore we are willing to host singers, bands, performers and activists from all around the world. Thus, the festival will enable us to create new links as well as increase our voice against the war, and for the peace.

We would be more than glad to host you and your organisation during the event this year in August 2007. We will be able to provide technical equipments that you will need to promote your organisation. You can also apply to organise a workshop or a meeting besides setting up a desk in the festival area.

Free and volunteer nature of the festival allows us to stand against many issues and to keep its independence. On the other hand, it also restricts us to reach a larger number of organisations since we are unable to cover travel expenses. If you prefer we will try to host you in one of our volunteers house, or if you bring your own tents, we guarantee you a perfect place just next to any participant's tent. The festival is also offering to you and to your organisation to be a part of a free, anti-war, anti-militaristic movement for two days, which we expect more than 100.000 participants this year.

Some numbers from last year

5: Age of the festival

15-20: Average number of participants for preparation.

25: Number of music performers participated.

60: Number of organisations, trade-unions, movements, publishers, platforms, initiatives participated.

100: Approximate number of volunteers during the festival.

500: Application to take place on the main scene.

6000: Budget of the festival (in new Turkish Liras – approx. 5000 USD)

80.000: Approximate number of participants

130.000: Total number of entries collected from gate counting.