What’s Happening (London-side April/May)?
23 April, 2025I hope y’all had a happy Easter and didn’t overdo it on the chocolate eggs. If you’re based in and around London and looking for ways to dance off any surplus, you should take note of the following:
La Linea festival, London 22nd April – 3rd May
London’s annual Latin-fest, La Linea, has already started. What’s more, it’s the 25th anniversary of the event. I was feeling wracked by guilt until I remembered that I did flag this up last month. Eliades Ochoa has already kicked things off, but there’s plenty more to be enjoyed over the coming days: Portuguese singer-songwriter-producer Ana Lua Caiano will be joined by special guest, the Swiss-Guatemalan singer, Baby Volcano; Muerdo, who has been streamed millions of times; BadBadNotGood-collaborator Juana Aguirre with special guest, Monatñera, whose work vaults the traditional/experimental frontier; Mexican Latin Grammy-winning Ed Maverick; Puerto Rican rap sensation, Villano Antillano; the farewell UK performance of Brazilian fusion band, Francisco, el Hombre; London-based multi-instrumentalist and LGBTQ+ rights-advocate, Alex Etchart; and the UK’s finest 18-piece ensemble, the New Regency Orchestra, who will be at the Jazz Café on the 1st May before heading off to a gig in Manchester two days later. There may be some tickets left here.
¡Cumbia, Mi Amor!, Hackney Bridge, 4th May
You’ve got a tad more time to button up your overcoat, adjust your social calendar and hurry down to Hackney for a night of music from Latin America on the 4th May. Powered by the “Suena Bien” sound system and making their initial UK appearances, there’ll be sets from the Argentine “cumbia trash” exponent, Rolando Bruno, Bolivian DJ/producer Susobrino back from his tour of Mexico, and the Mexican selector, researcher and activist, Hija del Nopal. Tickets can be found right here.
Salsa Garden Party, Fox & Firkin, 17th May
Under the umbrella of Movimentos (not literally, one hopes), the DJ/selector and music producer from Hong Kong Gia Fu returns to London for a big daytime garden party in the outdoor space at The Fox and Firkin. Tickets are apparently selling fast, so don’t miss out. Be there or be oblong.
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