La Bond Street was once the undisputed epicenter of Buenos Aires’ alternative culture. Buenos Aires brings together all styles and trends, but if you’re looking for rock, tattoos, vinyl records, and the chance to breathe in music, it’s still the place to be. That’s why you can’t miss Rock Day this Saturday, September 12 —a festival held inside Buenos Aires’ most iconic shopping arcade, featuring live bands, art, vinyl records, and surprises.
From a Christian Dior Store to the Cradle of the Underground: The Unusual History of Bond Street
Bond Street was founded in 1963 with a purpose completely opposite to what it is today: it was designed as a luxury shopping promenade (a luxury shopping promenade—can you imagine that?) for Buenos Aires’ high society and made history as the first shopping mall in Argentina to install escalators (a major milestone in the 1960s). In its early days, its corridors housed several haute couture boutiques, such as Christian Dior.
The economic crises of the ’70s and ’80s left it semi-abandoned, and everything changed in the late ’80s when the deserted basement was gradually taken over by Buenos Aires’ underground scene.
Musicians like “Semilla” Bucciarelli (bassist for Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota) walked through the corridors of Bond Street, passing art galleries and drum shops. Those early days attracted the first tattoo parlors and cult record stores, and over time, its hallways became covered in graffiti. International figures such as Slash, Iron Maiden, Mägo de Oz, and even Diego Maradona made their way through the hallways and stairwells of Bond Street.
Discover Buenos Aires’ most legendary shopping center: What to Expect at Rock Day on Bond Street
This September 12, the three levels of La Bond will be transformed into a festival where you’ll find live bands playing in the hallways and stores, rock photography exhibitions, reimagined murals, vinyl records, and special discounts.
- Live music: Shows by Gatos Sucios, Hijos de Nadie, Baphometa, Yamila Amaro, and Ignacio Dupin.
- Art and Culture: Rock photography exhibition and live mural installations by urban artists.
- Fair and cuisine: A pop-up sale of collectible vinyl records, culinary offerings, and special discounts at the shops along the promenade.
Admission to this festival—which brings together Buenos Aires’ rock scene in the city’s most rock-and-roll gallery—is free. Whether it’s been a century since you’ve been to Bond Street or you’ve heard of it but never set foot inside, September 12 is your day to discover it and experience it for yourself.
