Ribeirão Preto, SP, keeps rock alive with original bands, covers and festivals When we talk about Ribeirão Preto (SP), the first image that comes to mind is usually the strength of agribusiness and the dominance of country music. Away from the commercial circuit, however, the city maintains an active rock scene driven by the passion of musicians and fans. The local market has different realities. On the one hand, bands that reproduce hits from classic groups get frequent bookings in bars. On the other hand, artists who invest in original music encounter barriers and need to seek an audience in the capital. (understand below) Music producer and collector of more than 10 thousand vinyl records, Frederico Batista follows the scene closely and organizes rock events in the city. He explains that the genre now operates independently, but maintains a solid fan base. ?Click here to follow the g1 Ribeirão e Franca channel on WhatsApp "Ribeirão has a lot of rock today, but country music dominates. Houses that invest in music prioritize other styles. That's why rock bands end up going more for covers, which is what attracts people the most. There is a strong authorial scene, but it lives in its own universe." The space between covers and copyrights ? Publicist and real estate agent Juliana Prado, 44, knows the covers market well. She is the lead singer of two bands in the city and sings Beatles classics and punk hits with the group Ramoneros. Her relationship with the stage began in the 1990s and, today, she performs in alternative bars in Ribeirão Preto. Juliana believes that playing well-known songs requires a lot of study and attracts a captive audience, which guarantees space in nightclubs. "We study a lot to do the same and bring something very professional to the public. The guys love Ramones, the women go to the front and sing along. Rock hasn't lost ground, it's maintained itself and people persist. It's loud, it has attitude and energy." Vocalist Juliana Prado leads the band Ramoneros and keeps the energy of punk rock alive on the stages of independent bars in Ribeirão Preto, SP Personal archive For those who invest in their own sound, the route changes. Tattoo artist César Malnova, 39, is the lead singer of the band Igreja do Sexo, which focuses on the gothic style with punk influences. Formed in 2008, the band released a new album at the beginning of this year and plays most of its shows in São Paulo. "We end up living in a somewhat niche environment. In our region there isn't much space for Gothic and the original sound is difficult. In São Paulo, people value their own music much more than covers and even sing the new lyrics", he says. READ ALSO João Rock publishes show times in Ribeirão Preto; see programming by stage João Rock renews the sound with reinforcement of female voices in the line-up; check out the newcomers Producer Frederico Batista agrees and reinforces that the lack of local incentive affects independent projects. He himself organizes gothic festivals in Ribeirão Preto, but needs to hire groups from the capital. "The most popular rock is already underground. The gothic style ends up becoming the underground of the underground. To bring a gothic band, I have to call it São Paulo. When I see a band from our city, like César's, going to play in the capital, it's a joy for us." Musician César Malnova (in the center) and the band Igreja do Sexo bring their original gothic sound to the underground public Personal archive Professions and love for music ? Despite the loyal audience, living exclusively from rock is an exception in the region. Both Juliana and César see music as a passion that goes hand in hand with other careers. Their main livelihood comes from in the real estate market and the tattoo studio, respectively. Frederico points out that this is the reality of most of the Ribeirão Preto scene. "There are few who can make a living from music alone in Ribeirão Preto. And those who live are at that financial limit, playing from Monday to Sunday to be able to pay the bills. We all have a second job." For Juliana, keeping the band as a professional hobby avoids the frustration of giving in to commercial demands. "I don't see myself in that place of having to play what I don't want just because the bar crowd asks for it. I see it as a hobby well done. It's leisure, it's relaxation, it's therapy. I live through rock, but in a way that brings me joy, not a financial obligation", he explains. With female vocals, the Beatles cover band by vocalist Juliana Prado (on the left) keeps the work of the British quartet alive with faithful performances on stages in Ribeirão Preto, SP Personal archive The soul of vinyl and the new generation ? If the bars play covers and the authors travel to São Paulo, the interest in rock gains momentum in other formats. Frederico states that the return of records vinyl helps attract children and teenagers to this universe. The producer holds record fairs and tributes at alternative times, in the afternoon, which allows entire families to be present. According to him, vinyl has been largely responsible for saving this generation from what he calls the superficiality of digital consumption. But vinyl is saving this generation that doesn't want to be stuck just on their cell phones. People take 13, 14 year old children to the fairs. Rock is made with soul, there are songs released 60 years ago that are more current than ever", says Frederico. Record fairs in Ribeirão Preto, SP, bring together collectors and attract new fans, serving as a meeting point for the preservation of rock culture of Ribeirão Preto's anniversary celebrations and established itself on the national scene. One of the festival's founders, Luit Marques agrees that the region's natural identity is country music and, therefore, sees João Rock as a point of resistance that helps to balance the city's musical scene. That's why João Rock is a day of resilience, of being able to live with these people and celebrate this movement. The event was born bringing reggae, mixing other rhythms, but enhancing the essence of national rock." For the businessman, the biggest impact of the festival is not only in the big attractions, but in the direct reflection on the local public. In addition to keeping the scene heated with competitions for independent bands, the structure motivates the new generation to learn to play instruments. "João Rock strengthens the music scene in the city. The opportunity to have these artists nearby helps young people see their idols and be inspired to create their own garage band." The João Rock festival, held annually in Ribeirão Preto, has established itself as one of the biggest music events in the country and a point of resistance for the genre in the João Rock region *Under the supervision of Flávia Santucci See more news from the region on g1 Ribeirão Preto and Franca VIDEOS: Everything about Ribeirão Preto, Franca and the region