Concierto en la Base (1998)

Caracas, 1998

A historic festival for Human Rights that brought together more than 100,000 people at La Carlota.

A concert for the history books

On July 20, 1998, the Base Aérea de La Carlota in Caracas turned into the epicenter of one of the most massively attended concerts in Venezuela. Under the name “Concierto en la Base,” more than 100,000 people gathered to live 12 uninterrupted hours of music and messages of conscience in defense of Human Rights.

The event was sponsored by MTV Latinoamérica and had the backing of Amnistía Internacional. The network broadcast a special three-hour edition on August 1, 1998 for the whole of Latin America, reaching more than 8 million viewers.

The protagonists on stage

The concert brought different genres and generations together on one stage. Venezuelan groups such as Wahala (winners of the Festival de Nuevas Bandas 1998) and Un Solo Pueblo also took part, showing the country's musical diversity.

Among the international and national artists were:

· Rubén Blades
· Willie Colón
· Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
· Los Pericos
· Aterciopelados
· Desorden Público
· Os Paralamas do Sucesso

The role of the minitecas

Between the breaks and the stage changes, the hosting was in the hands of New York New York Discoteca Móvil, who took the crowd's energy to its highest point during the intermissions and the post show. Their presence was a privilege and a record: hosting in front of more than 100,000 people at an event of international standing.

Cultural impact

The Concierto en la Base was not only a musical spectacle but a meeting point between Venezuelan youth and a global message about human rights. The mix of salsa, ska, rock, reggae and folk music showed a country boiling over culturally and socially. The mist of water sprayed over the crowd to take the edge off the heat stayed engraved in the memory of those who lived that historic day.

Credits and sources

· Account by @newyorknewyork_oficial (Instagram) and press reports of the period, supported by the archives of MTV Latinoamérica and Amnistía Internacional.
· This article will be updated as verified information reaches us. If you were part of the event or keep visual material and accounts, help us document it by sending your contributions through our contact form.
· Migrated from the original article at culturaminiteka.com/rumbas-iconicas/concierto-en-la-base-aerea-la-carlota (accessed July 9, 2026).

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Source consulted on July 9, 2026

90s · Rumbas