La Linea: The London Latin Music Festival 2023 Review
La Linea - The London Latin Music Festival 2023 encapsulated the very best of London's Latin music scene, with vibrant performances from 20-piece London Latin jazz band, New Regency Orchestra and British-Colombian ensemble, Mestizo.
La Linea – The Latin Music Festival, made its highly anticipated return to London, with a vibrant celebration of music and culture. This annual event showcases a mix of established global icons and up-and-coming talents from the Latin music scene, providing a platform for artists to share their artistry with audiences in London. The festival consisted of a series of events across April and May, and I had the pleasure of attending shows by New Regency Orchestra and Mesitzo that left me wanting to dance the night away at two of London's most fantastic, intimate music venues.
The festival also featured several other talented artists who entertained audiences with their unique styles and musical abilities. Among them, the renowned Peruvian singer Susana Baca, a celebrated Peruvian singer and three-time Latin Grammy winner, graced the stage at Jazz Café, commemorating her illustrious 50-year career in music. Uruguayan singer-songwriter Jorge Drexler, a seven-time Latin Grammy winner. Chapulines brought vibrant Mexican and Caribbean rhythms to AMP Studios, while Vientos presented a fusion of South American folk and electronic influences at East London’s Rich Mix.
On a Saturday night [22 April], I made my way to Hackney Wick for the sold-out performance of the New Regency Orchestra at the Colour Factory. As a lover of an intimate space, I was excited to be back at this east London venue. The 20-piece Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble, led by pianist Eliane Correa, produced a unique spin on jazz and Latin sounds from the 1950s to 70s.
The orchestra was joined by two dancers who brought the stage to life, with members of the audience unable to resist joining in. It has been a while since I've witnessed such an enthusiastic audience, dancing and celebrating the performance with such passion. Beyond their fantastic music, the infectious feel-good vibes the band imparted to the audience made it an absolutely perfect way to spend a Saturday night.
I was also thrilled to attend the festival's closing act, British-Colombian ensemble Mestizo, at Village Underground. The formation of Mestizo came about following a collaboration between British-Caribbean saxophonist and Steam Down founder Ahnansé, and Colombian multi-instrumentalist and Mambo Negro Records label head Daniel Michel. Mestizo's sound incorporates elements of Afro-jazz, hip-hop, dub, salsa, cumbia, ska, bossa nova, and afrobeat, accompanied by bilingual vocals, gaita, clarinet, trumpet, sax, and a rich tapestry of percussion. The result is an eclectic musical journey.
What I loved the most about Mestizo was their ability to combine Colombian traditions such as currulao and cumbia, infused with salsa, rap, electronica, and jazz. With a harmonious mix of indigenous traditions and British diaspora music, they have created an innovative sound that was both entrancing and eclectic to hear live. The band's bilingual vocals and mastery of various instruments added a depth and a richness to their music. Despite being unfamiliar with the group prior to the event, I was blown away by their explosive show. The audience was swaying and dancing from side to side and the band had them chanting "otra otra otra" for an encore. Mestizo delivered an epic send-off that left the crowd buzzing with energy, and people continued dancing long after the band left the stage. I left eager to download their debut album, which is available now.
Whether you're a diehard fan of Latin Jazz or have yet to discover the genre, La Linea Festival is an absolute must for anyone in search of a night filled with amazing music and dancing. This year's festival was a true celebration of resilience and perseverance of the Latin music scene, embodied by the stunning symbol of a flowering cactus. The festival's powerful symbol perfectly encapsulated the Latin music industry's unwavering ability to bring joy and positivity to audiences, something it definitely lived up to this year. We can't wait to see what's in store for La Linea Festival in 2024!
New Regency Orchestra: Date: 22 April 2023. Location: Colour Factory, 8 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN. Mestizo: Date: 7 May 2023. Location: 54 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PQ.
La Linea Festival: Date: 21st April – 7th May 2023. Website: lalineafestival.com
Words by Maawura Totoe
EKLEIDO, a choreographic duo formed by Hannah Ekholm and Faye Stoeser, choreograph performances for live shows and film.
Dive into the fusion of Pink Floyd's music and cutting-edge neuroscience as Frameless London presents an immersive exploration of the mind's response to music…
Ernest Cole: House of Bondage · Beryl Cook / Tom of Finland · Judy Chicago: Revelations · Gavin Jantjes: To Be Free! A Retrospective · Lonnie Holley · The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition 2024 · Anthony McCall: Solid Light · Barbie Exhibition · NAOMI · Zanele Muholi · Modernism in Ukraine, 1900-1930s · Tavares Strachan: There Is Light Somewhere · Expressionists: Kandinsky, Münter and the Blue Rider…
Marc Quinn: Light into Life · Rheim Alkadhi: Templates for Liberation · REVERB by The Vinyl Factory · Photo London · Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection · Design Discoveries: Towards a DESIGN MUSEUM JAPAN · Michelangelo: the last decades · Angel ‘LA II’ Ortiz: ‘The Great Collaborator · London Craft Week 2024 …
Much Ado About Nothing · Brick Lane Jazz Festival · Hampton Court Tulip Festival · Chelsea Physic Garden Plant Festival · In The Round Festival · Ray Young: OUT · Sunrise Yoga at Art’otel Battersea · Walthamstow Wetlands · Expressionists: Kandinsky, Münter and the Blue Rider · Colin Davidson: Silent Testimony · Sofía Salazar Rosales · Devlin Carlo: My Sorry Ass · Marc Camille Chaimowicz · Ted Pim: Never Odd or Even · Barbara Kruger · In House: Juliette Ezaoui and Ana Milenkovic · V&A Museum Friday Late: Feminist Futures · Wolfox at LOAFT · SMOKESTAK x Wasted Wine Club…
British Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare presents new and recent artworks at the Serpentine South Gallery across a diverse array of media: from sculptures and installations to pictorial quilts and woodcut prints.
Celebrate the National Gallery’s 200th birthday With Jools Holland and friends, light shows, and a weekend of activities…
Juraj Benko’s experimental one-hander at the intimate Cockpit Theatre is a unafraid exploration of the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the innate longing for love and connection that makes us human…
Irish Theatre sensation 'Masterclass' set to confront gender dynamics in London premiere featuring Adrienne Truscott.
Hampton Court Tulip Festival · LSO: Ravel's Daphnis and Chloé · Garden Museum Spring Plant Fair · Books in the Park · London Coffee Festival 2024 · HistFest 2024 · Vadym Kholodenko Recital · La Linea - London Latin Music Festival · Chelsea Physic Garden Yoga Class · Yinka Shonibare CBE RA: Suspended States · Richard Serra: Six Large Drawings · Purple Hibiscus · Secundino Hernández: Problematic Corners · Back to Black …
Pioneering artist Linder will unveil her first London retrospective, pushing artistic boundaries and feminist discourse at the Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre in February 2025.
Lydia Smith is one to watch. Currently on show in three different places across London, her work can be seen in a solo exhibition in the City, a group show in a chapel in Chelsea and through a new series of monumental sculptures installed outdoors across sprawling parkland…
Much Ado About Nothing · Brick Lane Jazz Festival · Yinka Shonibare CBE RA: Suspended States · Roof East · The Last Caravaggio · Ceramic Art London · Monday Monthly Yoga Class at Chelsea Physic Garden · Hampton Court Tulip Festival · London Marathon · La Linea – the London Latin Music Festival · Garden Museum Spring Plant Fair · Taiwan Festival · Sculpture Trails: Paws on the Wharf · The Little Egg Hunt
Taipei-based IT entrepreneur Elsa Wang is the founder of Bluerider ART, a progressive gallery at the intersection of art and technology.
Discover a comprehensive guide to Stockholm's finest museums and places to eat…
The experience combines both, offering a convivial, entertaining, and tasty evening…
In October 2024, Serpentine will present the UK premiere of Αγρίμι (Fauve), featuring Greek dancer, choreographer, director, and writer Lenio Kaklea, in collaboration with Sadler’s Wells…