Only two days after the historic visit of President Obama to Cuba, the Rolling Stones arrived on Thursday, March 24, to perform for free in what is expected to be a mega concert on Friday 25.
Sound tests concluded on Thursday at the stage set up at a sports complex known as Ciudad Deportiva. Seven screens have been fitted to 10-meter high scaffolds. Eight sound repeaters have also been installed for people to be able to enjoy the music regardless of where they are located on these grounds.
People have come from all corners of the country and the world to attend the concert. Many of them are already at the Ciudad Deportiva, taking pictures. Even people who are not very familiar with the British band say that they are curious to see what they think will be a historic concert.
“We don’t know much about their music, because they’re not from our generation, but seeing this stage I think it will be a show like we’ve never seen before in Cuba,” said Mario, a young man who travelled from the center of the country to Havana to see the concert.
Sara, 65, came to the area the day before to see how thing were going. She won’t be coming to the concert at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, but she expects to be able to watch it on TV at some point.
“This band is living history. My 43-year-old son is coming, he never dreamed of attending a live concert like this. They (the musicians) are not that young anymore, but they play with the same energy as when they were younger.”
Popi and Andy are French, and they are now in Havana especially for the concert. They’ve been to so many concerts of the Rolling Stones that they stopped counting after the 40th. Of this current tour, Olé, they have seen three concerts, Cuba will be the one that closes the cycle.
The Rolling Stones will play some 15 songs in their Havana concert, including some of the classics like Satisfaction, which normally opens or closes the band’s concerts.
In their website and official Twitter account, the band has been polling the public about the songs they would like to hear, but unfortunately limited internet access on the island determines that only a few Cubans will be able to make their choices that way.
The concert won’t be broadcast live on Cuban television, due to copyright issues, but once the documentary of the concert is ready, the band has agreed to authorize its broadcast on Cuban TV.
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