What’s Happening (London-side, June +)?
17 May, 2025There are some very interesting concerts coming up in the London area, and for once I’m suitably organised to give you a bit of notice.
Quimantú at St. Paul’s, 20th and 21st June
No, not the cathedral, but St. Paul’s church in Covent Garden. Nevertheless, this looks fascinating and not to be missed. Quimantú was founded by Chilean exile Mauricio Venegas-Astorga with the laudable aim of using music for cultural integration and social change. Having spent over four decades blending Latin American and British influences, they will be performing The Miners’ Mass—originally inspired by the struggles of Chilean coal miners—as the culmination of the Surtierra Touring Project, which has seen 200 singers from community choirs across the UK, including migrants and refugees, come together to learn this powerful musical piece in Spanish. It will be part of Refugee Week in the hope that “these concerts will serve as a poignant tribute to the resilience of displaced people and the power of music to forge new homes.” You can buy tickets for the 20th here and the 21st here.
“Cubafrobeat”: Lokkhi Terra meets Dele Sosimi at Ronnie Scott’s, 1st June
Described by Songlines as “probably the world’s best Afrobeat-Cuban-Bangladeshi group”, London-based Lokkhi Terra have released six critically acclaimed albums to date, including 2018’s Cubafrobeat. It featured the Nigerian keyboards star, Dele Sosimi, and earned All About Jazz‘s accolade of “a total stonking blinder”. So how can you possibly miss their reunion at Ronnie’s?
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 5th June
Just a few days later – if you can cope with two genre-benders in quick succession – the Latin-rock legends are celebrating 30 year of their hit “Matador” and 40 years of being Los Fabulosos Cadillacs with a rare date in London. It’s rock, Jim, but rock that blends ska, reggae, rap and salsa among other styles. The Latin Grammy winners were described by the New York Times as “perhaps the most innovative Spanish-language rock of the 1990s.” You can buy tickets to see the old warhorses here.
La Sonora Santanera at KOKO, 14th September
You’ve got a little more time to gear yourself up to see the yet-more-venerable Latin legends from Mexico, who are celebrating their 70th (yes, you read it correctly) anniversary on Mexican Independence Day at KOKO in Camden Town. The brassy big band (as pictured) that plays a bit of everything from mambo to merengue via bolero and cumbia are led by Josefa González-Blanco Ortiz-Mena, the Mexican Ambassador to the UK, so they know a thing or two about Mexican political history as well as Latin genres. Get your tickets here and prepare to dance.
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