10 To Watch at Estéreo Picnic 2025

As Bogotá’s Estéreo Picnic 2025 approaches, it’s clear that this happening is about more than just flashy pop acts—it’s about evolution and intent. The event has come a long way from its humble beginnings, growing into one of the region’s most distinctive large-scale music gatherings, balancing global stars with a deep commitment to the region’s most exciting artists. 

This year, that compromise seems to have taken a bold step forward with the introduction of the Presente stage, a space free from corporate sponsorship, designed purely for the music. In an era where festivals often feel more like marketing platforms than cultural moments, this shift is a statement in favor of artistic expression. And with many of our must-watch artists performing there, it’s bound to be one of the most exciting spots at the festival.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a selection of artists who embody the spirit of discovery and innovation that makes FEP stand out. Some are emerging voices redefining Latin American music, while others are established acts pushing their sound into new territory. From genre-bending producers and psychedelic explorers to cutting-edge emerging acts, here are the performances that will most likely  make this year’s edition memorable for us:

Sofia Kourtesis

Peruvian producer, DJ and vocalist Sofia Kourtesis took us on a new and wonderful adventure with her debut album Madres, which is largely a tribute to her mother, who had to fight to survive cancer, but also to Peter Vajkoczy, the world-renowned neurosurgeon who gave them hope. Madres is tinged with the shadows of these years of struggle and dips in mental health, but overall, the album shines with hope, courage, joy and it’s a source of inspiration towards social justice as well as emotional growth (e.g. the Manu Chao-featured track “Estación Esperanza” which opens with feminist chants).

For her homecoming Perú show this month, Sofia played with a full band and invited her mum on stage with her. We’re excited to see what she has in store for her Colombia show.

De Mar y Río

Winners of the 2024 Petronio Álvarez Festival, De Mar y Río are the new face of traditional marimba music. Formed by 12 young musicians from across Colombia’s Pacific coast, the group carries the rhythms of Timbiquí, Guapi, Ladrilleros, El Charco and beyond, bringing generations of tradition together with a fresh, youthful energy.

Under the direction of Felipe Amú, this collective has spent the last decade honing their sound and earning spots at some of the country’s biggest stages, including Colombia al Parque, Feria de Cali and the Bogotá Music Market. Their debut album, Bailen y Gocen, released in March of last year, is a bold step toward bringing Pacific music to a global audience—an invitation to dance, celebrate, and keep this rich tradition alive. If you want a reason to set your alarm and make it to the festival first thing on Saturday afternoon, this powerhouse of contemporary Pacific sounds is what you were looking for.

Gabriela Ponce

Gabriela Ponce explores experimental sounds through traditional Latin American rhythms and personal, political lyrics. Hailing from Pasto, Nariño, Gabriela is part of the progressive jazz-rock group BUHA2030 but began her solo career with the 2023 album El Sur del Ser, which she defines as a dialogue with the earth beneath our feet, inspired by feminine sexuality. The record looks at the duality of the rural and the urban through re-imagined Latin American rhythms, sweet vocals and lyrics that take you by surprise. The track “Mujeres Vuelan en Guitarras” argues for feminising rock music as politics have been feminised, for example. 

An alumna of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where she studied jazz, Ponce experiments with different wind instruments like PVC flutes from Cauca and the sweet-sounding wooden pinquillo flutes from Putumayo. For Ponce, “El camino está vivo” (the path is alive) is a philosophy that fuels her constant experimentation, making her one to watch.

Hermanos Gutierrez

Few acts can captivate an audience without saying a word, but Hermanos Gutiérrez have mastered the art of storytelling through sound. The Swiss-Ecuadorian brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez create sweeping instrumental landscapes, blending Latin rhythms, surf rock, and Western-tinged guitar work into something that feels both timeless and cinematic. Their music—deeply inspired by Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti western scores, Ry Cooder’s desert blues, and Gustavo Santaolalla’s haunting textures—carries listeners to vast, sun-drenched highways and lonely border towns with every note.

Fresh off their latest album Sonido Cósmico (released in June 2024 via Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound), the duo continues to evolve their signature sound while staying true to their minimalist, evocative approach. Their chemistry is undeniable, weaving intricate guitar lines so seamlessly that it feels like a single instrument guiding you through an endless road trip.—a recommended set for anyone looking to start their journey with a mesmerizing, transportive experience.

CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso

These fellow Argentinians wowed the internet with their slick, playful Tiny Desk performance back in October last year. It showed off their experimental side with live arrangements of their trap, hip hop and electronica tracks. And it’s not just at their Tiny Desk that they’ve incorporated a live band into their set, mixing in some pop latino, jazz fusion or house and EDM sounds. The band is distinctive and eccentric in their music and their lyrics, often rapping stories about drugs and sex. We await what they have in store for Colombia…

CLUBZ

Fresh off their vibrant set at Vive Latino, Mexican duo CLUBZ is bringing their signature blend of synth-laced nostalgia and modern funk to Bogotá. The duo of Orlando Fernández and Coco Santos has spent the last decade perfecting a sound that feels both vintage and futuristic—balancing dreamy ’80s textures with crisp, contemporary production.

From the shimmering melodies of 2015’s Épocas EP to the dancefloor-ready grooves of their acclaimed 2018 album Destellos, these guys have become one of the region’s most forward-thinking alternative acts. Their live shows are also a clear reflection of this, packed with tight basslines, glossy synths, and the kind of hooks that will linger long in your head. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering them, this one is definitely a set to watch. While they might not have the global mainstream pop machine backing them, their booking at FEP proves just how much weight they carry—going head-to-head on a prime Thursday night slot against popular Canadian singer Shawn Mendes. For those looking for a set with edge, groove, and a whole lot of neon-soaked energy, CLUBZ is the move.

Nathy Peluso

Argentine performer Nathy Peluso oozes confidence, commands attention and gives herself completely to the music and the moment, resulting in sweaty, electric performances full of dance, ad-lib and sexuality. With three albums, a remix compilation and three world tours under her belt, Peluso is an established artist of the moment, a status she’s earned from grittily opening her own path and staying true to her true loves: salsa, pizza, milanesa, self-love, and movement. 

Her sound is fun, mixing trap, pop, big salsa and paired back acoustic tracks and her aesthetic never holds back. Nathy’s new song “EROTIKA” is Inspired by the early 1990s salsa erótica scene in New York City and is likely to be a hit at her Estéreo Picnic gig.

Ela Minus

Ela Minus (Gabriela Jimeno Caldas) was born in Bogotá but developed much of her music through leaving the Colombian capital. She studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and has been crafting her own techno pop/electropunk sound paired with soft vocals and minimal but vivid lyrics. Her new album is introspective but opens wide sonic planes where we can ask important questions about the world and our place in it.

Ela Minus has been touring her sophomore LP Día since January, including three sold out dates at London’s Roundhouse as well as European cities, Australia and the US.

The Marias

With their hypnotic blend of R&B, soul, and psychedelia, The Marías are set to bring one of the weekend’s most polished and intimate performances. The LA-based band led by Puerto Rican singer María Zardoya, has spent the last few years crafting a sound that feels both intimate and expansive—lush synths, steamy vocals, and a dreamlike atmosphere that transports you somewhere between nostalgia and the unknown.

Fresh off the release of their 2024 album Submarine, as well as big-shot collaborations with artists like Bad Bunny, Cuco, and Tainy, The Marías have only refined their signature aesthetic. Tracks like “No One Noticed” and “Lejos de Ti” showcase their effortless ability to move between English and Spanish, between soft ballads and pulsing grooves. Whether it’s the intimacy of “Lejos de Ti” or the hypnotic pulse of “No One Noticed”, their performance promises to be one of those rare festival moments where time slows down and music lingers long after the last note fades.

BALTHVS

Colombia’s BALTHVS has spent the last five years quietly becoming one of the country’s most internationally recognized alternative acts. Drawing comparisons to bands like Khruangbin but with a distinct Latin American soul, their sound is a hypnotic blend of psychedelic funk, desert blues, and vintage R&B, carried by Balthazar Aguirre’s shimmering guitar work, Johanna Mercuriana’s airy vocals and deep basslines, and Santiago Lizcano’s steady, groove-heavy drumming.

With over 45 million streams, nine international tours, and performances at Austin City Limits, Outside Lands, and SXSW Sydney, they’ve taken their head-nodding, sun-drenched sound across the globe. Their latest album Harvest, recorded in La Mesa Cundinamarca, a pseudo-tropical retreat not too far from Bogotá’s chaos, captures their essence—lush, atmospheric, and effortlessly cool.

With a curation-centric approach, consistent focus on emerging Latin talent, and its permanence at Parque Simón Bolívar, FEP 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most memorable editions yet. This year’s lineup once again reflects a balance between established voices and emerging sounds, offering a space for both discovery and celebration. The event continues to carve out its own space—one that feels distinct from other major festivals in the region, while pushing the conversation forward.

You can find info on tickets and more here, and if you’re heading there, don’t hesitate to hit us up and let us know who you’re most excited to see!

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