Rock! Jokowi's Son, Gibran Rakabuming Relives Rock In Solo Concert

Rock in Solo Concert (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka appreciated the return of Rock in Solo. Prior to a five-year hiatus, Rock in Solo was an annual music event that was first held in 2004.

The first son of President Joko Widodo gave his appreciation to the organizers and musicians who were involved in organizing the event. "Thank you for supporting my initiative, which is to hold this event again. Even though the pandemic must not stop," he said, quoted from ANTARA, Monday, November 22.

The Rock in Solo event will be held in December 2021, presenting a collaboration of rock music with Javanese gamelan with composer Gondrong Gunarto. Rock in Solo organizer Stephanus Adjie in Solo, said the metal band from Solo Down For Life will be the first performer.

"Then it was stopped for five years because of several things. Yes, it might have to stop first, only in 2021, Mas Gibran wants festivals in Solo to be reactivated, one of which is Rock in Solo. That's why for this year we are carrying the title Apocalyptic: A Journey of Rock in Solo," he said.

As for gamelan music, Gondrong musicians will create a mix of Javanese, Banyuwangi, and sekaten gamelan music.

"As for several other artists who are also involved, including keroncong singer Endah Laras. This is our first collaboration with keroncong singers. In addition there are also dancers Luluk Ari and Wawin Laura," he said.

He said that he was involved across generations and across genres because the organizers wanted to restore the dignity of Rock in Solo, a music event that was born from the city of Solo.

However, considering that the event was held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, later there would be a limitation on the number of spectators so that the event was held online and offline. He said offline, the Rock in Solo concert will be held live at the Convention Hall Terminal Tirtonadi Solo on December 18, 2021.

"After we coordinated with the COVID-19 Task Force, the maximum audience was 500 people and they had to sit down. Later before entering the concert arena they had to undergo an antigen test first," he said.