SATURDAY 25TH MARCH – LA DESCARGA LIVE MUSIC: 9.30-11.30PM // DOORS: 8.30PM TICKETS: $20 + BF La Descarga is back to bring the fiesta to Open Studio! To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian music and dance this night will heat up your soul to a boneshaking, tropical experience. La Descarga has prepared a special night to celebrate our long awaited return to Open Studio. La Descarga will be bringing the traditional gaita and tambora group to celebrate through the night playing the tunes representative of Colombian tropical heritage music including puya, cumbia, gaita, champeta and mapale. Put your dancing shoes and your carnival vibes on and get down to the fiesta! La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia. Created in 2009 in Melbourne, this unique ensemble in Australia has preserved the culture of Colombian Tri-ethnic (Spanish, African and Amerindian) ancestors, fusing tradition with new sounds. Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts of Colombia and fuses them with contemporary sounds and grooves such as dub, funk and electronica. * Please book shows carefully as the venue has a no refund policy if you change your mind. If an event is cancelled tickets are refunded in full.

CARIBE CARNAVAL presented by Brunswick Music Festival and Multicultural Arts Victoria ¡PURO SABOR! An explosion of colour, music, and Caribbean culture. On Saturday 11 March at Howler, CARIBE CARNAVAL will channel the energy of Barranquilla’s vibrant carnival celebrations! ¡CON PICOTERO! General Feelings MORDISCO (COL) @sonido_melbourne La Foxy Fuzz (Sydney/COL) Randy Castilla (PE) Plus guest Carlo Xavier! ¡EN VIVO! MC Kaimán Jiménez (Barranquilla/COL) Dance-crew Selva y Tambó (COL) Afro-Colombian band La Descarga and the awe-inspiring Snuff Puppets. PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED! Made possible with support from our friends Aguardiente Antioqueño Powered by El Gran Mono, CARIBE CARNAVAL offers a unique alternative to the summer Latin festivals held across Melbourne, merging both the rich history of the Colombian picó sound system culture with the energy of one of the country’s most important folkloric celebrations. Performances will be interwoven with dance and theatrical elements, creating a one-of-a-kind show never before seen in Melbourne. Do not miss this true taste of the Caribbean. A portion of profit from this event will be donated to purchase supplies for the hosting of a community art workshop by the Colombian picó sound system artist William “El Maestro” Gutierrez. PICOTERO (DJs) GENERAL FEELINGS General Feelings AKA Lucreccia Quintanilla is a New York born Salvadoran artist living in Melbourne whose work includes amongst many things DJing, and the of running General Feelings sound system. As Australia’s first female run sound system, General Feelings continues to lift sound system culture in this country, with tough party-selections and a forward thinking vision. Regardless of the outcome Lucreccia’s work always comes from her deep love of music which she inherited form her family, especially her grandfather and aunt who were both cumbia musicians in El Salvador. MORDISCO Beat bitting, sound sounding, song grinding. MORDISCO is a Colombian Melbourne based song chewer savouring what can only be explained as Hardcore Vallenato and Heavy Merengue. Known in other circles as being one of the owners and driving forces behind cult cafes Sonido in Fitzroy and Arepa Days in Preston, it is exciting to welcome MORDISCO to the carnival. LA FOXY FUZZ Known for her passion in music, La Foxy Fuzz is a Colombian woman with an ability to provoke people to dance to Latin rhythms. Over the past nine years she has performed as a member of the Queen Bee collective, one of the founders of Discoteca Tropical in Sydney, and made appearances on various projects such as Tropicante SoundSistema, Sydney Fringe Festival, Vivid Sydney with El Gran Mono, New Beginnings Festival, and featured by SBS in Spanish. RANDY CASTILLA Originally from Peru, Randy grew up on a diet of his parents favourite music consisting of Guaguancó, Merengue, Guarachas, Cumbias and Boogaloo. Picking up records in faraway places during his travels through Europe and South America, his collection has now grown to an extensive and rare musical library. CARLO XAVIER Carlo Xavier is a DJ and picótero dedicated to the future of music, curating high energy sets which explore modern sounds grounded in deep foundational influences. His Portuguese family heritage has nurtured Carlo’s profound appreciation for Lusofonic and complex rhythms, and his record digging trips across Northern Brazil and Colombia have seen Carlo compile music for the cult label Analog Africa, including Jambú, Camarão, contributing to Los Diablos Del Ritmo releases. Previously supporting artists such as Ray Lugo (US), Frikstailers (MEX), Criolina (BR), Mo Horizons (GER), Carlo is also a co-producer for Other Words Other Sounds, and a key member of El Gran Mono familia, performing with the picó at Womadelaide, Rising (Heavy Congress), Vivid, and Spilt Milk in 2022. LIVE PERFORMERS LA DESCARGA The forerunners of Colombian tropical roots music in Australia, La Descarga were born in 2010 in Melbourne, as a tribute to the traditional rhythms of the coasts of Colombia and a preserver of its cultural heritage. Performing with traditional drums, marimba, gaita flutes, with cantadores y cantadoras (traditional singers) and folkloric dancers, La Descarga pay tribute to the foundational traditional sounds of the Colombian Caribbean. KAIMAN JIMENEZ MC Kaimán Jimenez AKA Oscar Jimenez is a local musical force, borned Barranquillero, and embodiment of picó culture here in Australia. Also know as producer and leader of popular Latin alternative bands such as Watussi and Amaru Tribe, with whom he has released several albums and received awards and Nominations plus opened for artist such as Santana, Seun Kuti, Manu Chao, Earth Wind and Fire and more. He has performed as part of El Gran Mono familia at WOMADelaide, Rising (Heavy Congress), Vivid Sydney, and regular parties including Sound System Giants. SELVA Y TAMBO Selva y Tambó is a journey through the roots of popular and traditional Colombian culture in an expression of dance and movement. They are women of fire and the jungle, who move to the beat of their own hearts, and together strive to represent the joy and energy of their immense culture. Formed in 2021 with Karen Bravo, dance-crew Selva y Tambó is now lead by Michelle Llamas and Yulieth Ibañez, inviting other members of the dance community to participate in performances. Selva y Tambó have performed with El Gran Mono for Rising (Heavy Congress) in 2022, and the sold out 'Colombia y Brasil: Cultura del Sonido' event and Spilt Milk festival tour in 2022. SNUFF PUPPETS Since 1992, Snuff Puppets has been unleashing its giant puppet spectacles on millions of people worldwide. Snuff Puppets is a collision of visual art, sculpture, design, engineering, music, movement, performance and physical theatre. At the heart of it is giant puppets – sometimes gorgeous; sometimes grotesque – and the unpredictable ways they are brought to life. EL GRAN MONO El Gran Mono is the first picó sound system built outside Colombia, and features artwork by the great sound system artist William “El Maestro” Gutierrez.The Caribbean coast of Colombia is known as the origin of the picó sound system culture, which stretches back to the 1930’s when valve radios would be decorated in paint or chalk and blast the broadcast of Radio Barranquilla from people’s home. The 1970’s to 1980’s are often referred to as the “Golden-era” of picó, with giant elaborately decorated systems playing regularly throughout cities such as Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta.

Now in its 44th year, Fiesta welcomes you back to celebrate and partake in the cultures of the Hispanic and Latin American community! Across two days in February, we will sing and dance to our heart's content. WITH PERFORMANCES BY: - Mangata City - La Descarga - Hasta La Cumbia - The New Monos & Cumbia Massive Collective SATURDAY 25TH & SUNDAY 26TH FREE ENTRY UNTIL 9PM LIVE BANDS 3PM-9PM DJS 9PM-3AM

Sunshine Lunar New Year staged by Sunshine Business Association ✨ Sunday 12th February from 12 pm to 10 pm. It’s a full day of family fun, entertainment, rides, street performers, music, food of many nations, magical Lion and Dragon Dancing, firecrackers and ending with some spectacular fireworks from 9:00 to 9:10 pm. 🐈 Please keep all pets indoors 🐕 The community event takes place in the busy Sunshine shopping precinct along Hampshire Road, Sunshine.

La Descarga are back to bring the fiesta to Open Studio! SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER LIVE SHOW: 9.30-11.30PM // DOORS: 9PM // TICKETS: $20 + BF To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian music and dance this night will heat up your soul to a boneshaking, tropical experience. La Descarga has prepared a special night to celebrate our long awaited return to Open Studio. This will be our last gig for the year in Australia, as the band will be touring overseas to visit their homeland, Colombia; so better not miss it! La Descarga will be bringing the traditional gaita and tambora group to celebrate through the night playing the tunes representative of Colombian tropical heritage music including puya, cumbia, gaita, champeta and mapale. Put your dancing shoes and your carnival vibes on and get down to the fiesta! La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia. Created in 2009 in Melbourne, this unique ensemble in Australia has preserved the culture of Colombian Tri-ethnic (Spanish, African and Amerindian) ancestors, fusing tradition with new sounds. Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts of Colombia and fuses them with contemporary sounds and grooves such as dub, funk and electronica. IMPORTANT Please book shows carefully as the venue has a no refund policy if you change your mind. If an event is cancelled tickets are refunded in full.

Colombian tropical, vintage, dub and fusion live at Felons Barrel Hall. Don't forget your dancing shoes! Free entry.

Tropical Colombian Vvntage, dub and fusion at Miami Marketta

Una noche con la raíces del folclor Colombiano !! Catalog Music presents a special, intimate night of tropical South American sounds inside the space feat Colombian gaita cumbia roots ensemble LA DESCARGA. (looking forward to welcoming these guys finally, after they were due same time last year, but inhibited to travel because of Melb lockdown). La Descarga (meaning ‘rhythm explosion’) make their long awaited live debut up from Melbourne on Meeanjin country. Recently celebrating their 10yr anniversary as a group, they play the sizzling sounds from the tropical coasts of the coffee & sugar plantation lands of Colombia - Atlantico / Carribean / Pacifico Cumbia, Gaita, Palenque, Porro, Puya, Currulao, Mapalé and more! Traditional flutes (‘Gaitas’) combine with raw afro-latin percussion and electrifying singing and dance for an immersion of Colombian heritage roots music culture! https://youtu.be/ryrFORble68 https://ladescargaband.com/about Alongside Sabrosa ‘Son Sistema’ crew’s DJ Paprika keeping things sizzling for the in-betweens. Tropical Folkloric Colombian vinyl selections collected from trips to these regions - styles & flavours such as cumbia, palenque, porro, puya, salsa, etc. *those that remember Sabrosa head honcho Carlo/Pepe Sol co-compiler of definitive ‘Colombian Melting Pot 1960-1985’ music compilation on legendary reissue recordings house - Analog Africa Records (a firm label favourite here at Catalog Music): https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/.../diablos-del-ritmo... www.mixcloud.com/sabrosa viva cumbia, viva Colombia, vamos bailar!! get ready to swing away the cold winter - Colombian roots style!! Viva Colombia. + we’ll have some specially selected Latin LPs and titles out on the Catalog racks, for those wanting to take some South American music heat home with them. 8pm-12am. $15 pre-sale online tix (Humanitix link . . . . ) to reserve your spot in the space!

This weekend we will be bringing some of our music and culture to the streets of Melbourne. Sunday 12 March 3:30 pm at QV Melbourne Courtyard Come for some live Cumbias, Gaitas, Drums and Dancing in the street. Thanks City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Music Victoria for the "On the Road Again" initiative and supporting artists in these challenging times. Free event for al ages.

This weekend we will be bringing some of our music and culture to the streets of Melbourne. Saturday 11 March 3:30pm at The District Docklands, right under the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Come for some live Cumbias, Gaitas, Drums and Dancing in the street. Thanks City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Music Victoria for the "On the Road Again" initiative and supporting artists in these challenging times. Free event for all ages.

The Waterfront Festival is our chance to play by the bay!🏖️ Come down to the foreshore and enjoy two days of fun in the sunshine 🌞. You will hear the sound of local live music fill the lawns, the waft of Victoria’s best food trucks floating past your nose and stacks of fun activities for the family. This year you are in for a treat with not 1, not 2 but 3 stages at the festival! 🎶 Frankston City Council is thrilled to announce big voices, including Sneaky Sound System, Jack Jones, Andrew Swift, Gretta Ziller, and Spirit Lines will headline the festival with many more artists! 🎤 The Ventana Fiesta precinct which will be bringing colour and vibrancy to The Waterfront Festival in 2022, with a precinct full of intercultural celebrations, colour and cuisine, this is not to be missed. With a larger footprint across the Frankston Foreshore we have jammed packed plenty of entertainment in to keep you occupied throughout the weekend, including: 🛍️ Market stalls 🌊 Beach activities 🎪 The Dreaming Space family entertainment 🎡 Amusement rides and showbags 🎼 Live music and roving entertainment 🍔 Food trucks and garden bar 🤸 Free activities and much more! Our much loved fireworks display is back, lighting up the sky on Saturday at 9.45pm! Make sure you secure your spot for the best views of a sparkling display of fireworks set to dazzle and delight all🎇 Strap yourself in for a fun filled weekend of summer beach days and nights along the bay. Grab your family and friends and lock Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February in the diary! Family friendly free event.

ISU TAKI & La Descarga present: La Noche de las Velitas [Candle Light Night] To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian dance this night will heat up your soul.

ISU TAKI & La Descarga have prepared a special night at Bar 204 on Saturday 4 December to gather and celebrate light, romance and remember past times when candles were used to illuminate humanity’s life and celebrations. In Colombian culture (and across Abya Yala), candles have a special meaning. Candle Lights Night (Spanish: La Noche de las Velitas), held on December 7, is one of the most observed traditional holidays in Colombia. On this day, people place candles and paper lanterns on their windows, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks and squares, in short, everywhere they can be seen. It marks the start of the end of the year celebrations.

During cumbia dance, women playfully wave their long skirts while holding a candle, and men dance behind the women with one hand behind their back and the other hand either holding a hat, putting it on, or taking it off. Candles have been used for more than 5,000 years and we invite you to light another candle, dance and remember. Expect a ritualistic Afro-Colombian rhythmic and dance explosion. La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia.

Light your candle at the Fiesta and start the end-of-year celebrations with us.

And if that's not good enough, ISU TAKI curated a DJ line-up to immerse you deeply into Colombian and South American musical diversity. It will display a selection of mestizo rhythms native to this incredibly beautiful tropical piece of land.

DJ line up: DJ Grace de las Nieves [Strictly vinyl Cumbia] Randy Castilla [Strictly vinyl Afro-Latin] Otorongo [Strictly vinyl Afro-Latin & Afro-futurism]

This event takes place on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. ISU TAKI & La Descarga respectfully acknowledges elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge ancient knowledge not only from Kuli Nation, but all across both continents: Australia and Abya Yala. Always was, always will be.

Mendoza's #1 Latin party of the year Mendoza's Social Club presents:

COLOMBIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY FIESTA 2021 Feat. Local Colombian band "La Descarga" Dj Mike C - Dj Bryan $20 includes 1 drink card Reserve a table and party VIP style www.mirandabar.com.au

Forget about the siesta and get down to the fiesta!

Celebrate a decade of Cumbia style party in Melbourne. Melbourne’s longest standing Cumbia roots band, La Descarga, is throwing a bone-shaking matinée fiesta at Northcote Social Club on Sunday 23 May from 1:30-4:30pm, celebrating ten+ years of deep-rooted tropical Colombian music.

This family friendly explosive afternoon will take you into a tropical land of traditional music, dance and performance from the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts of Colombia, in the drumming and jamming hands of La Descarga with special guests and supported by The Electropical Orchestra and Sabrosa Sound System DJs (Brisbane).

Cumbia music, inspired by the heartbeat, mixes the colour and spirit of Latin America, with the soul and feeling of Africa, and the passion and lyricism of Spain. It was born in Colombia, and continues to spread around the world, being recognised by many, as having the most infectious rhythm. Since 2010, La Descarga has been the forerunner and preserver of the cultural heritage and folk of Cumbia in Australia. La Descarga has played in many of Australia’s most recognised festivals including MOOMBA, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Darwin Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Australian Multicultural Festival, White Night Melbourne, Reservoir Stomp and Darebin Music Feast.

"La Descarga celebrates the universal history of travelling cultures, fusions and Melbourne's own mix of converging sounds and traditions." Jess Fairfax, Easey

La Descarga is led by interdisciplinary artist Jorge Leiva and features award-winner producer Oscar Vargas, Melbourne’s leading gaita players Felipe Paz and Andres Carreño and recognised dancer and choreographer Kathleen Gonzalez, with Maria Paula Espinoza and Camila Gonzalez. The Electropical Orchestra, the extended family of La Descarga including Dandelion Jackson (Mr. Manifold and the Resolution, The Pirateska Rebellion), Lauren Mullarvey (The Cactus Channel) and Stefano Ioele (The Pirateska Rebellion) will also join the party bringing psychedelia, electronica and dub to the Caribbean and Afro-Colombian grooves.

The party will feature guest artists who have been part of La Descarga history, including Bonnie Smith (Reflejos), Oscar Jimenez and Katherine Gailer (Amaru Tribe), Javier Rodriguez (Dela Caye), Mauro Gomez (Madre Monte), Jay Scarlett (The Seven Ups), Coya Lee (The New Monos), Claudia Escobar-Vega (Miss Colombia), Luis Escudero and Claudia Vidal. Sabrosa Sound System DJ’s will be spinning dusty afro tropical & Colombian roots sounds! Cumbia, Guaguanco, Palenque, Puya, Porro, and more. Recently appearing for El Gran Mono picoteiro sound system, they’ll be warming things up for us throughout the show!

Expect a one-of-a-kind performance in Melbourne, with everlasting drumming, coastal visual projections, and first-hand experience with ancestral rhythms and sounds.

And remember, forget about the siesta and get down to the fiesta!

PARTY DETAILS: DATE: Sunday 23 May TIME: 1:30-4:30pm VENUE: Northcote Social Club, 301 High St, Northcote TICKETS: $25

Glenroy Festival and Fawkner Festa will return over the first weekend in May bringing you live music, delicious food, roving performances, community stalls and workshops.

The free events reflect the vibrant and diverse communities of Glenroy and Fawkner and we welcome everyone to join us for a fun-filled weekend!

Bring a picnic rug and come celebrate with us!

Free entry, All ages

The Penny Black + PeopleartPeople apresenta

Bailar Tropiiiicaaal ! 🌴💃🎶🥥🌵🎉

Una noche de música latina tropical!!

A night of tropical latin sounds with Colombian and Brazilian Roots music same time as 'carnival weekend' in South America!

Hola Amigos e amigas - who’s ready to celebrate the official South American carnival weekend??!!

Feat Colombian cumbia and roots band LA DESCARGA (meaning rhythm explosion), playing the energetic sounds from the tropical coasts of the coffee and sugar plantation lands - Atlantico / Carribean / Pacifico Cumbia, Gaita, Palenque, Porro, Puya, Currulao, Mapalé and more! Traditional flutes, bass, raw fiery percussion and electrifying singing blended together alongside colourful dancers for a dynamic show of latin heritage roots music energy! They’ll also be presenting some of the flavours from Colombia’s legendary 'Barranquilla carnaval’ vibes. https://youtu.be/ryrFORbIe68 https://ladescargaband.com/about

Alongside Brazilian roots ‘forró music' trio, Sanfona Sentida playing the swaying, bumpy, tropical music of Brazil’s dry and hot North East region, complete with sanfona (Brazilian accordion) soaring pocket-rocket vocals from Paulina Viroga, sizzling percussion and dance! They recently returned from a mini Europe tour playing at Brazilian Forró festivals and events in Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Spain.
https://youtu.be/aDBmTtQU4-4

With Sabrosa Sound System DJs Carlo Xavier/Pepe Sol & Paprika keeping things sizzling for the in-betweens. Sabrosa head honcho Carlo/Pepe Sol recently co-compiler on compilation release of tropical music from the Amazonian region of Brazil (the first of its kind!) - ‘Jambú e Os Míticos Sons Da Amazônia' - out now on @Analog Africa Recordings. https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/jamb-e-os-m-ticos-sons-da-amaz-nia Cumbia DJ mix: https://www.mixcloud.com/Sabrosa/la-costa-buena-by-pepesol/

vamos bailar!! get ready to boogie down - tropical roots carnaval style!! 🌴💃🎶🎉

8pm-12am . free entry .

The Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd Brunswick www.thepennyblack.com.au

After a well deserved and long siesta, la Descarga is ready for some fiesta! To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian music and dance this night will heat up your soul to a boneshaking experience.

La Descarga has prepared a special night at Open Studio to gather and pay tribute to the Carnival of Barranquilla, one of Colombia's most important folkloric celebrations, and one of the biggest carnivals in the world.

La Descarga will be bringing the traditional gaita and tambora group to celebrate through the night playing the tunes representative of the February Barranquilla Fiestas including puya, cumbia, gaita, bullerengue and mapale. Put your dancing shoes and your carnival vibes on and get down to the fiesta de carnaval!

La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia. Created in 2009 in Melbourne, this unique ensemble in Australia has preserved the culture of Colombian Tri-ethnic (Spanish, African and Indigenous) ancestors, sharing it with Australian music and traditions.

Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts of Colombia

Entry $12 at the door

SATURDAY 25TH MARCH – LA DESCARGA LIVE MUSIC: 9.30-11.30PM // DOORS: 8.30PM TICKETS: $20 + BF La Descarga is back to bring the fiesta to Open Studio! To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian music and dance this night will heat up your soul to a boneshaking, tropical experience. La Descarga has prepared a special night to celebrate our long awaited return to Open Studio. La Descarga will be bringing the traditional gaita and tambora group to celebrate through the night playing the tunes representative of Colombian tropical heritage music including puya, cumbia, gaita, champeta and mapale. Put your dancing shoes and your carnival vibes on and get down to the fiesta! La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia. Created in 2009 in Melbourne, this unique ensemble in Australia has preserved the culture of Colombian Tri-ethnic (Spanish, African and Amerindian) ancestors, fusing tradition with new sounds. Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts of Colombia and fuses them with contemporary sounds and grooves such as dub, funk and electronica. * Please book shows carefully as the venue has a no refund policy if you change your mind. If an event is cancelled tickets are refunded in full.

CARIBE CARNAVAL presented by Brunswick Music Festival and Multicultural Arts Victoria ¡PURO SABOR! An explosion of colour, music, and Caribbean culture. On Saturday 11 March at Howler, CARIBE CARNAVAL will channel the energy of Barranquilla’s vibrant carnival celebrations! ¡CON PICOTERO! General Feelings MORDISCO (COL) @sonido_melbourne La Foxy Fuzz (Sydney/COL) Randy Castilla (PE) Plus guest Carlo Xavier! ¡EN VIVO! MC Kaimán Jiménez (Barranquilla/COL) Dance-crew Selva y Tambó (COL) Afro-Colombian band La Descarga and the awe-inspiring Snuff Puppets. PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED! Made possible with support from our friends Aguardiente Antioqueño Powered by El Gran Mono, CARIBE CARNAVAL offers a unique alternative to the summer Latin festivals held across Melbourne, merging both the rich history of the Colombian picó sound system culture with the energy of one of the country’s most important folkloric celebrations. Performances will be interwoven with dance and theatrical elements, creating a one-of-a-kind show never before seen in Melbourne. Do not miss this true taste of the Caribbean. A portion of profit from this event will be donated to purchase supplies for the hosting of a community art workshop by the Colombian picó sound system artist William “El Maestro” Gutierrez. PICOTERO (DJs) GENERAL FEELINGS General Feelings AKA Lucreccia Quintanilla is a New York born Salvadoran artist living in Melbourne whose work includes amongst many things DJing, and the of running General Feelings sound system. As Australia’s first female run sound system, General Feelings continues to lift sound system culture in this country, with tough party-selections and a forward thinking vision. Regardless of the outcome Lucreccia’s work always comes from her deep love of music which she inherited form her family, especially her grandfather and aunt who were both cumbia musicians in El Salvador. MORDISCO Beat bitting, sound sounding, song grinding. MORDISCO is a Colombian Melbourne based song chewer savouring what can only be explained as Hardcore Vallenato and Heavy Merengue. Known in other circles as being one of the owners and driving forces behind cult cafes Sonido in Fitzroy and Arepa Days in Preston, it is exciting to welcome MORDISCO to the carnival. LA FOXY FUZZ Known for her passion in music, La Foxy Fuzz is a Colombian woman with an ability to provoke people to dance to Latin rhythms. Over the past nine years she has performed as a member of the Queen Bee collective, one of the founders of Discoteca Tropical in Sydney, and made appearances on various projects such as Tropicante SoundSistema, Sydney Fringe Festival, Vivid Sydney with El Gran Mono, New Beginnings Festival, and featured by SBS in Spanish. RANDY CASTILLA Originally from Peru, Randy grew up on a diet of his parents favourite music consisting of Guaguancó, Merengue, Guarachas, Cumbias and Boogaloo. Picking up records in faraway places during his travels through Europe and South America, his collection has now grown to an extensive and rare musical library. CARLO XAVIER Carlo Xavier is a DJ and picótero dedicated to the future of music, curating high energy sets which explore modern sounds grounded in deep foundational influences. His Portuguese family heritage has nurtured Carlo’s profound appreciation for Lusofonic and complex rhythms, and his record digging trips across Northern Brazil and Colombia have seen Carlo compile music for the cult label Analog Africa, including Jambú, Camarão, contributing to Los Diablos Del Ritmo releases. Previously supporting artists such as Ray Lugo (US), Frikstailers (MEX), Criolina (BR), Mo Horizons (GER), Carlo is also a co-producer for Other Words Other Sounds, and a key member of El Gran Mono familia, performing with the picó at Womadelaide, Rising (Heavy Congress), Vivid, and Spilt Milk in 2022. LIVE PERFORMERS LA DESCARGA The forerunners of Colombian tropical roots music in Australia, La Descarga were born in 2010 in Melbourne, as a tribute to the traditional rhythms of the coasts of Colombia and a preserver of its cultural heritage. Performing with traditional drums, marimba, gaita flutes, with cantadores y cantadoras (traditional singers) and folkloric dancers, La Descarga pay tribute to the foundational traditional sounds of the Colombian Caribbean. KAIMAN JIMENEZ MC Kaimán Jimenez AKA Oscar Jimenez is a local musical force, borned Barranquillero, and embodiment of picó culture here in Australia. Also know as producer and leader of popular Latin alternative bands such as Watussi and Amaru Tribe, with whom he has released several albums and received awards and Nominations plus opened for artist such as Santana, Seun Kuti, Manu Chao, Earth Wind and Fire and more. He has performed as part of El Gran Mono familia at WOMADelaide, Rising (Heavy Congress), Vivid Sydney, and regular parties including Sound System Giants. SELVA Y TAMBO Selva y Tambó is a journey through the roots of popular and traditional Colombian culture in an expression of dance and movement. They are women of fire and the jungle, who move to the beat of their own hearts, and together strive to represent the joy and energy of their immense culture. Formed in 2021 with Karen Bravo, dance-crew Selva y Tambó is now lead by Michelle Llamas and Yulieth Ibañez, inviting other members of the dance community to participate in performances. Selva y Tambó have performed with El Gran Mono for Rising (Heavy Congress) in 2022, and the sold out 'Colombia y Brasil: Cultura del Sonido' event and Spilt Milk festival tour in 2022. SNUFF PUPPETS Since 1992, Snuff Puppets has been unleashing its giant puppet spectacles on millions of people worldwide. Snuff Puppets is a collision of visual art, sculpture, design, engineering, music, movement, performance and physical theatre. At the heart of it is giant puppets – sometimes gorgeous; sometimes grotesque – and the unpredictable ways they are brought to life. EL GRAN MONO El Gran Mono is the first picó sound system built outside Colombia, and features artwork by the great sound system artist William “El Maestro” Gutierrez.The Caribbean coast of Colombia is known as the origin of the picó sound system culture, which stretches back to the 1930’s when valve radios would be decorated in paint or chalk and blast the broadcast of Radio Barranquilla from people’s home. The 1970’s to 1980’s are often referred to as the “Golden-era” of picó, with giant elaborately decorated systems playing regularly throughout cities such as Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Santa Marta.

Now in its 44th year, Fiesta welcomes you back to celebrate and partake in the cultures of the Hispanic and Latin American community! Across two days in February, we will sing and dance to our heart's content. WITH PERFORMANCES BY: - Mangata City - La Descarga - Hasta La Cumbia - The New Monos & Cumbia Massive Collective SATURDAY 25TH & SUNDAY 26TH FREE ENTRY UNTIL 9PM LIVE BANDS 3PM-9PM DJS 9PM-3AM

Sunshine Lunar New Year staged by Sunshine Business Association ✨ Sunday 12th February from 12 pm to 10 pm. It’s a full day of family fun, entertainment, rides, street performers, music, food of many nations, magical Lion and Dragon Dancing, firecrackers and ending with some spectacular fireworks from 9:00 to 9:10 pm. 🐈 Please keep all pets indoors 🐕 The community event takes place in the busy Sunshine shopping precinct along Hampshire Road, Sunshine.

La Descarga are back to bring the fiesta to Open Studio! SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER LIVE SHOW: 9.30-11.30PM // DOORS: 9PM // TICKETS: $20 + BF To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian music and dance this night will heat up your soul to a boneshaking, tropical experience. La Descarga has prepared a special night to celebrate our long awaited return to Open Studio. This will be our last gig for the year in Australia, as the band will be touring overseas to visit their homeland, Colombia; so better not miss it! La Descarga will be bringing the traditional gaita and tambora group to celebrate through the night playing the tunes representative of Colombian tropical heritage music including puya, cumbia, gaita, champeta and mapale. Put your dancing shoes and your carnival vibes on and get down to the fiesta! La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia. Created in 2009 in Melbourne, this unique ensemble in Australia has preserved the culture of Colombian Tri-ethnic (Spanish, African and Amerindian) ancestors, fusing tradition with new sounds. Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts of Colombia and fuses them with contemporary sounds and grooves such as dub, funk and electronica. IMPORTANT Please book shows carefully as the venue has a no refund policy if you change your mind. If an event is cancelled tickets are refunded in full.

Colombian tropical, vintage, dub and fusion live at Felons Barrel Hall. Don't forget your dancing shoes! Free entry.

Tropical Colombian Vvntage, dub and fusion at Miami Marketta

Una noche con la raíces del folclor Colombiano !! Catalog Music presents a special, intimate night of tropical South American sounds inside the space feat Colombian gaita cumbia roots ensemble LA DESCARGA. (looking forward to welcoming these guys finally, after they were due same time last year, but inhibited to travel because of Melb lockdown). La Descarga (meaning ‘rhythm explosion’) make their long awaited live debut up from Melbourne on Meeanjin country. Recently celebrating their 10yr anniversary as a group, they play the sizzling sounds from the tropical coasts of the coffee & sugar plantation lands of Colombia - Atlantico / Carribean / Pacifico Cumbia, Gaita, Palenque, Porro, Puya, Currulao, Mapalé and more! Traditional flutes (‘Gaitas’) combine with raw afro-latin percussion and electrifying singing and dance for an immersion of Colombian heritage roots music culture! https://youtu.be/ryrFORble68 https://ladescargaband.com/about Alongside Sabrosa ‘Son Sistema’ crew’s DJ Paprika keeping things sizzling for the in-betweens. Tropical Folkloric Colombian vinyl selections collected from trips to these regions - styles & flavours such as cumbia, palenque, porro, puya, salsa, etc. *those that remember Sabrosa head honcho Carlo/Pepe Sol co-compiler of definitive ‘Colombian Melting Pot 1960-1985’ music compilation on legendary reissue recordings house - Analog Africa Records (a firm label favourite here at Catalog Music): https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/.../diablos-del-ritmo... www.mixcloud.com/sabrosa viva cumbia, viva Colombia, vamos bailar!! get ready to swing away the cold winter - Colombian roots style!! Viva Colombia. + we’ll have some specially selected Latin LPs and titles out on the Catalog racks, for those wanting to take some South American music heat home with them. 8pm-12am. $15 pre-sale online tix (Humanitix link . . . . ) to reserve your spot in the space!

This weekend we will be bringing some of our music and culture to the streets of Melbourne. Sunday 12 March 3:30 pm at QV Melbourne Courtyard Come for some live Cumbias, Gaitas, Drums and Dancing in the street. Thanks City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Music Victoria for the "On the Road Again" initiative and supporting artists in these challenging times. Free event for al ages.

This weekend we will be bringing some of our music and culture to the streets of Melbourne. Saturday 11 March 3:30pm at The District Docklands, right under the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Come for some live Cumbias, Gaitas, Drums and Dancing in the street. Thanks City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria and Music Victoria for the "On the Road Again" initiative and supporting artists in these challenging times. Free event for all ages.

The Waterfront Festival is our chance to play by the bay!🏖️ Come down to the foreshore and enjoy two days of fun in the sunshine 🌞. You will hear the sound of local live music fill the lawns, the waft of Victoria’s best food trucks floating past your nose and stacks of fun activities for the family. This year you are in for a treat with not 1, not 2 but 3 stages at the festival! 🎶 Frankston City Council is thrilled to announce big voices, including Sneaky Sound System, Jack Jones, Andrew Swift, Gretta Ziller, and Spirit Lines will headline the festival with many more artists! 🎤 The Ventana Fiesta precinct which will be bringing colour and vibrancy to The Waterfront Festival in 2022, with a precinct full of intercultural celebrations, colour and cuisine, this is not to be missed. With a larger footprint across the Frankston Foreshore we have jammed packed plenty of entertainment in to keep you occupied throughout the weekend, including: 🛍️ Market stalls 🌊 Beach activities 🎪 The Dreaming Space family entertainment 🎡 Amusement rides and showbags 🎼 Live music and roving entertainment 🍔 Food trucks and garden bar 🤸 Free activities and much more! Our much loved fireworks display is back, lighting up the sky on Saturday at 9.45pm! Make sure you secure your spot for the best views of a sparkling display of fireworks set to dazzle and delight all🎇 Strap yourself in for a fun filled weekend of summer beach days and nights along the bay. Grab your family and friends and lock Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 February in the diary! Family friendly free event.

ISU TAKI & La Descarga present: La Noche de las Velitas [Candle Light Night] To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian dance this night will heat up your soul.

ISU TAKI & La Descarga have prepared a special night at Bar 204 on Saturday 4 December to gather and celebrate light, romance and remember past times when candles were used to illuminate humanity’s life and celebrations. In Colombian culture (and across Abya Yala), candles have a special meaning. Candle Lights Night (Spanish: La Noche de las Velitas), held on December 7, is one of the most observed traditional holidays in Colombia. On this day, people place candles and paper lanterns on their windows, balconies, porches, sidewalks, streets, parks and squares, in short, everywhere they can be seen. It marks the start of the end of the year celebrations.

During cumbia dance, women playfully wave their long skirts while holding a candle, and men dance behind the women with one hand behind their back and the other hand either holding a hat, putting it on, or taking it off. Candles have been used for more than 5,000 years and we invite you to light another candle, dance and remember. Expect a ritualistic Afro-Colombian rhythmic and dance explosion. La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia.

Light your candle at the Fiesta and start the end-of-year celebrations with us.

And if that's not good enough, ISU TAKI curated a DJ line-up to immerse you deeply into Colombian and South American musical diversity. It will display a selection of mestizo rhythms native to this incredibly beautiful tropical piece of land.

DJ line up: DJ Grace de las Nieves [Strictly vinyl Cumbia] Randy Castilla [Strictly vinyl Afro-Latin] Otorongo [Strictly vinyl Afro-Latin & Afro-futurism]

This event takes place on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. ISU TAKI & La Descarga respectfully acknowledges elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge ancient knowledge not only from Kuli Nation, but all across both continents: Australia and Abya Yala. Always was, always will be.

Mendoza's #1 Latin party of the year Mendoza's Social Club presents:

COLOMBIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY FIESTA 2021 Feat. Local Colombian band "La Descarga" Dj Mike C - Dj Bryan $20 includes 1 drink card Reserve a table and party VIP style www.mirandabar.com.au

Forget about the siesta and get down to the fiesta!

Celebrate a decade of Cumbia style party in Melbourne. Melbourne’s longest standing Cumbia roots band, La Descarga, is throwing a bone-shaking matinée fiesta at Northcote Social Club on Sunday 23 May from 1:30-4:30pm, celebrating ten+ years of deep-rooted tropical Colombian music.

This family friendly explosive afternoon will take you into a tropical land of traditional music, dance and performance from the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts of Colombia, in the drumming and jamming hands of La Descarga with special guests and supported by The Electropical Orchestra and Sabrosa Sound System DJs (Brisbane).

Cumbia music, inspired by the heartbeat, mixes the colour and spirit of Latin America, with the soul and feeling of Africa, and the passion and lyricism of Spain. It was born in Colombia, and continues to spread around the world, being recognised by many, as having the most infectious rhythm. Since 2010, La Descarga has been the forerunner and preserver of the cultural heritage and folk of Cumbia in Australia. La Descarga has played in many of Australia’s most recognised festivals including MOOMBA, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Darwin Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Australian Multicultural Festival, White Night Melbourne, Reservoir Stomp and Darebin Music Feast.

"La Descarga celebrates the universal history of travelling cultures, fusions and Melbourne's own mix of converging sounds and traditions." Jess Fairfax, Easey

La Descarga is led by interdisciplinary artist Jorge Leiva and features award-winner producer Oscar Vargas, Melbourne’s leading gaita players Felipe Paz and Andres Carreño and recognised dancer and choreographer Kathleen Gonzalez, with Maria Paula Espinoza and Camila Gonzalez. The Electropical Orchestra, the extended family of La Descarga including Dandelion Jackson (Mr. Manifold and the Resolution, The Pirateska Rebellion), Lauren Mullarvey (The Cactus Channel) and Stefano Ioele (The Pirateska Rebellion) will also join the party bringing psychedelia, electronica and dub to the Caribbean and Afro-Colombian grooves.

The party will feature guest artists who have been part of La Descarga history, including Bonnie Smith (Reflejos), Oscar Jimenez and Katherine Gailer (Amaru Tribe), Javier Rodriguez (Dela Caye), Mauro Gomez (Madre Monte), Jay Scarlett (The Seven Ups), Coya Lee (The New Monos), Claudia Escobar-Vega (Miss Colombia), Luis Escudero and Claudia Vidal. Sabrosa Sound System DJ’s will be spinning dusty afro tropical & Colombian roots sounds! Cumbia, Guaguanco, Palenque, Puya, Porro, and more. Recently appearing for El Gran Mono picoteiro sound system, they’ll be warming things up for us throughout the show!

Expect a one-of-a-kind performance in Melbourne, with everlasting drumming, coastal visual projections, and first-hand experience with ancestral rhythms and sounds.

And remember, forget about the siesta and get down to the fiesta!

PARTY DETAILS: DATE: Sunday 23 May TIME: 1:30-4:30pm VENUE: Northcote Social Club, 301 High St, Northcote TICKETS: $25

Glenroy Festival and Fawkner Festa will return over the first weekend in May bringing you live music, delicious food, roving performances, community stalls and workshops.

The free events reflect the vibrant and diverse communities of Glenroy and Fawkner and we welcome everyone to join us for a fun-filled weekend!

Bring a picnic rug and come celebrate with us!

Free entry, All ages

The Penny Black + PeopleartPeople apresenta

Bailar Tropiiiicaaal ! 🌴💃🎶🥥🌵🎉

Una noche de música latina tropical!!

A night of tropical latin sounds with Colombian and Brazilian Roots music same time as 'carnival weekend' in South America!

Hola Amigos e amigas - who’s ready to celebrate the official South American carnival weekend??!!

Feat Colombian cumbia and roots band LA DESCARGA (meaning rhythm explosion), playing the energetic sounds from the tropical coasts of the coffee and sugar plantation lands - Atlantico / Carribean / Pacifico Cumbia, Gaita, Palenque, Porro, Puya, Currulao, Mapalé and more! Traditional flutes, bass, raw fiery percussion and electrifying singing blended together alongside colourful dancers for a dynamic show of latin heritage roots music energy! They’ll also be presenting some of the flavours from Colombia’s legendary 'Barranquilla carnaval’ vibes. https://youtu.be/ryrFORbIe68 https://ladescargaband.com/about

Alongside Brazilian roots ‘forró music' trio, Sanfona Sentida playing the swaying, bumpy, tropical music of Brazil’s dry and hot North East region, complete with sanfona (Brazilian accordion) soaring pocket-rocket vocals from Paulina Viroga, sizzling percussion and dance! They recently returned from a mini Europe tour playing at Brazilian Forró festivals and events in Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Spain.
https://youtu.be/aDBmTtQU4-4

With Sabrosa Sound System DJs Carlo Xavier/Pepe Sol & Paprika keeping things sizzling for the in-betweens. Sabrosa head honcho Carlo/Pepe Sol recently co-compiler on compilation release of tropical music from the Amazonian region of Brazil (the first of its kind!) - ‘Jambú e Os Míticos Sons Da Amazônia' - out now on @Analog Africa Recordings. https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/jamb-e-os-m-ticos-sons-da-amaz-nia Cumbia DJ mix: https://www.mixcloud.com/Sabrosa/la-costa-buena-by-pepesol/

vamos bailar!! get ready to boogie down - tropical roots carnaval style!! 🌴💃🎶🎉

8pm-12am . free entry .

The Penny Black 420 Sydney Rd Brunswick www.thepennyblack.com.au

After a well deserved and long siesta, la Descarga is ready for some fiesta! To the sound of the drums and the rhythms of Afro-Colombian music and dance this night will heat up your soul to a boneshaking experience.

La Descarga has prepared a special night at Open Studio to gather and pay tribute to the Carnival of Barranquilla, one of Colombia's most important folkloric celebrations, and one of the biggest carnivals in the world.

La Descarga will be bringing the traditional gaita and tambora group to celebrate through the night playing the tunes representative of the February Barranquilla Fiestas including puya, cumbia, gaita, bullerengue and mapale. Put your dancing shoes and your carnival vibes on and get down to the fiesta de carnaval!

La Descarga is a tribute to the music and dance traditions of the Afro-Colombian regions from the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia. Created in 2009 in Melbourne, this unique ensemble in Australia has preserved the culture of Colombian Tri-ethnic (Spanish, African and Indigenous) ancestors, sharing it with Australian music and traditions.

Colombia is known as "The land of a thousand rhythms" holding over 1000 folk rhythms. La Descarga explores the roots and sounds of these many rhythms from the coasts of Colombia

Entry $12 at the door