FREE CONCERT CELEBRATING THE NEW SOUNDS OF LATIN AMERICA
A free, all-ages, outdoor concert showcasing artists who represent the new sounds of Latin America can be experienced on Sunday, July 16 when the WXPN Latin Roots Live! concert series presents NUEVOFEST 2017, featuring performances by eight outstanding Latin alternative artists, starting at 2 P.M. at FringeArts (doors open at 1 P.M.). NUEVOFEST is free and open to the public via advance RSVP, and it will take place rain or shine.
Now in its fifth year, NUEVOFEST is part of the WXPN Latin Roots Live! series of free concerts inspired by Latin Roots, the bi-weekly series heard on NPR’s World Cafe radio program (produced by Philadelphia public radio station WXPN) that explores and exposes the vast variety of music from Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries. NUEVOFEST and the Latin Roots Live! free concert series are produced and presented by WXPN 88.5 FM in partnership with AfroTaino Productions, and made possible by the William Penn Foundation.
NUEVOFEST 2017 will feature performances by these artists, who represent the Latin alternative music genre’s variety and diversity:
LA VIDA BOHÈME (Venezuela) – Two-time Latin GRAMMY winners and recent SPIN cover story subject, La Vida Bohème is an alternative independent band from Caracas, Venezuela formed by Rafael Perez, Daniel De Sousa, Sebastian Ayala, and Henry D’Arthenay in late 2006 and mid 2007. They take influence from late ’70s punk, disco, funk, electronic music, jazz, salsa, reggae and dance music.
JAVIERA MENA (Chile) – Since her first release Esquemas Juveniles in 2006, Chilean indie star Javiera Mena jumped onto the scene bringing attention to the upbeat sounds of a new generation. The singer, songwriter, and producer began performing at age 17. She has released 4 critically-acclaimed albums of electro-pop and has also gained international awards and nominations, including a Latin GRAMMY nomination for “Otro Era,” as well as fans throughout the world.
BUSCABULLA (Puerto Rico) – Electronic duo Buscabulla (Spanish slang for troublemaker) is the experimental pop project of Raquel Berrios and Luis del Valle. Born and raised in Puerto Rico and based out of New York City, Raquel, a designer, record collector, and producer, teamed up with multi instrumentalist and producer Luis del Valle in 2011. Their second EP II was self-released in January 2017 under their label Baby Making Records. In February, Rolling Stone named them one of “10 new artists you need to know.”
BALÚN (Puerto Rico) – Brooklyn-based dance/electronic indie band Balún self-identify as transnational. The quartet that broke out of the San Juan indie scene a decade ago has since undergone a formational odyssey through the industry, academia, and the stateside Puerto Rican experience, and created a new genre called Dream-bow, by fusing atmospheric soundscapes with Caribbean urban rhythms. Last year, Pandora named them a “Latin artist to watch.”
TRIBU BAHARU (Colombia) – Hailing from Bogotá, Tribu Baharú is a six-piece, Afro-champeta music tribe (tribu) that’s been together since 2009, and whose sound has evolved from the Colombian Caribbean and is influenced by the “Pico” (sound system) culture of Barranquilla and Cartagena. The aim of Tribu Baharu is “to convey the joy of being Caribbean through dance, using music as a vehicle.” A recent 45rpm vinyl release from Electric Cowbell Records has been sweeping the world music DJ charts throughout 2017.
RUBIO (Chile) – Rubio is the solo electronic project of drummer, singer, and Chilean national treasure Fran Straube, who is best known for fronting and drumming in electronic rock band Miss Garrison. Her acclaimed 2017 series of five EPs cohesively reflects her eclectic tastes in urban, sci-fi, and alternative rock genres.
PIÉLAGO (Puerto Rico) – Four-piece Puerto Rican band Piélago was formed in 2013 and plays a contagious, rhythmic mixture of reggae/dancehall, R&B and world music.
EL MARIACHI MANCHESTER (Los Angeles CA) – “The very first English Mariachi band” is a five-piece band from “MozAngeles” that plays covers of songs by The Smiths lead singer, Morrissey (known affectionately as Moz). In an NPR interview, the band said, “Catholicism, guilt, second-class citizen — it’s almost the same being an Irish descent in England, what it is of being Mexican or Mexican descent living in the United States.”
Featured Image by Alex Pinto