A small, discreet country, nestled between turbulent Colombia and immense Peru, Ecuador boasts - and its musicians, both amateur and professional, never miss an opportunity to point this out - a musical diversity as rich as that of its neighbors: the Creole music of the Esmeralda region in the north, on the Colombian border; the rhythms and songs of the depths of the "Silva", the Amazon; the folklore of the Andean highlands, on the central cordillera; the music and dances of the coast, from San Lorenzo to Guayaquil. 

While traditional music occupies a central place on the artistic scene and in musical education, experimental music is not to be outdone by a young, committed and effervescent electro scene which, since 2006, has had its annual rendez-vous, recognized throughout the South American continent and the Latino sphere; this year the red carpet is rolled out under the feet of Ecuadorian artists, as well as musicians and performers from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay...

Because Rotofest is a pioneer in Ecuador. It's where electro musicians and artists who embrace music, design and new technologies converge in July. This mecca for Ecuador's experimental and independent scene takes place in Cuenca, the country's third-largest city - behind Quito, the capital, and Guayaquil, the great port city of the south - and in several natural sites in the Azuay region. A city of colonial architecture, Cuenca is a cultural hub of the first order, and is nicknamed the "Athens of Ecuador". An Athens that is as much about heritage (the city boasts one of the country's four great symphony orchestras) as it is about the music of today and tomorrow.  

Electro music - with a large number of DJ sets - as well as new musical comedy, electronic dance and independent music, with several rock concerts each year. This festival, the only one of its kind in Ecuador, takes the pulse of the panorama of electronic culture, experimental music and digital creation. What's more, the event is widely supported by the Ministry of Culture. Public support that is not taken for granted in Ecuador...

Due to the pandemic, the 2021 edition did not experience the usual feverish activity: the DJ sets, filmed without an audience, were broadcast over the Internet. A virtual festival entitled "Timeless edition" for the occasion, spread over two weekends (July 17 & 18, then July 24 & 25).

Rotofest, which celebrated its 15th edition this summer, has become a fixture on the international circuit of electronic and experimental music festivals. This South American event is increasingly popular with artists from all over the world. In 2022, the Ecuadorian festival will welcome Australian DJ Marlie and German DJ Mathias Kaden.

Check out highlights from previous editions on the Rotofest Soundcloud page! 

Suzanne Gervais in Ecuador