‘Huge Repercussion’: ‘Rock in Rio Febras’ Goes National After Controversy with ‘Rock in Rio’

Rock in Rio Febras said this Wednesday it was surprised at the national reach the festival has achieved following the controversy with Rock in Rio, adding that tours from Lisbon have even been contacted.

A small music festival taking place on July 22 in Briteiros San Salvador, in the municipality of Guimarães, Braga district, had “a huge outcry and media coverage” after it was revealed that the company responsible for “Rock in Rio Lisbon” , notified Rock in Rio Febras of the name change, alleging brand misuse and unfair competition.

Speaking to the Lusa agency, the president of Casa do Povo de Briteiros, the private social solidarity institution (IPSS) that organizes the event, realized that the festival had “acquired a dimension beyond anything” that was expected.

“We have already been contacted by groups of people who would like to tour Lisbon to ask if we have a place to sleep, to camp. people from all over contacted them saying they wanted to come, people from the parish said they would advertise rooms for rent next to the fence on the internet. It seems surreal,” said Vasco Marquez.

The official said that in the first edition of “Rock in Rio Febras”, held in 2022, about 1,500 people passed through the enclosure during the day, stressing that if they were all at the same time, they would already be crowded.

Due to demand for this year’s festival, which will feature five bands and four local DJs, the organization will be making some changes to “double or triple the capacity” of the riverside Briteiros River Park. River Febras.

Vasco Márquez underlined that it is important for the public to have fun and enjoy the place, but safely, stressing that the organization is thinking together about a solution as there is space limitation, parking or a problem with bathrooms.

One possibility is to create a free ticket to restrict entry, but this is not a closed topic yet.

The poster for 2022 reads: “Begins at 4 p.m. and ends before GNR arrives.” According to the president of Casa do Povo de Briteiros, this will also be the spirit of the festival this year, always maintaining its social and community character, with revenues returning to the day center.

“Last year, we had about thirty volunteers from the parish who prepared febras, bifans, sold drinks. The entire local community gets involved and joins the festival. Nothing, they don’t ask for anything. The next day after the holiday, everything is clean, without garbage”, praised is the responsible person.

Vasco Marquez shared another story with Lusa, adding that he asked a friend who worked in advertising for a telecommunications company for 50 to 60 red ID ribbons identifying elements of the organization (“staff”).

“He immediately said he could arrange it for me. He was asked if it was for Rock in Rio Febras, he answered yes. he works, is a partner of the Festival de Paredes de Coura. It seems that we are also competitors of the Festival de Coura,” ironically this element of the organization.

As for the new name that will be given to the festival, the president of Casa do Povo de Briteiros humorously revealed that the public will choose from various digital platforms.

“Board of Directors [do festival] met yesterday [terça-feira] and decided that the name would be democratically chosen by the people. Let’s post two or three names on social media and put them up for a vote. We plan to do it this week,” concluded Vasco Marquez.