Get ready to put on your wildest costume and get ready to party! San Francisco’s grand celebration, Carnaval San Francisco produced by CANA is celebrating its 45th anniversary this coming weekend with a two-day festival this Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th featuring phenomenal entertainment from 11 am to 6 pm on Harrison between 17th and 22nd Streets and the annual spectacular parade which starts at 9:30 am from 24th Street and Byrant Streets in the Mission District.
Cuba’s legendary premiere dance band Los Van Van will headline playing over 50 years of great hits and signature songs on the 22nd and Harrison Street stage starting at 4 pm on Saturday, May 28th. BREAKING NEWS: I just heard the sad news that Juan Carlos Formell, bassist of Los Van Van died of cardiac arrest last night in New York. My deepest condolences to the Formell family and to Los Van Van. I just been informed by a close member of the Los Van Van team that the shows will go on as scheduled for today in San Francisco! There will be a bassist joining Los Van Van from Miami. RIP Juan Carlos Formell!
One of Columbia’s iconic Cumbia bands, La Sonora Dinamita with Vilma Diaz will be playing their repertoire of hits and smokin’ Cumbia as headliners of the 17th and Harrison Street stage at the same time at 4 pm. Other highlights on 22nd Street will be the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, Los Jefes, Bululu, Sabor De Mi Cuba with Carlos Medrano and the Ahkeel Mestayer Quintet who comes on right before Los Van Van. The lineup prior to Sonora Dinamita starting at 11 am includes in order of appearance, the Mission District Young Musicians Program, Jah Yzr featuring Lawgiver, The Kingston, Sacred Fire, Batuki and Agrupacion Vallenata La Herencia. Also performing on Sunday will be Pepe Y Su Orquesta, Chika D, Fogo Na Roupa, Rueda Con Ritmo, Loco Bloco, The Hip Spanic All Stars, Jose Najera’s Bernal Beat, Batala, Veesh Maria, Daniel Riera, Batey Tambo.
There will be three other stages featuring Latin and World sounds including Latinx Hip-Hop, dance performers, a LGBTQ stage and street block parties featuring a diversity of DJ’s throughout the entire weekend. Come out and make it! The grand parade will also be broadcast on 10am Sunday morning on Cable 12, channel 44 and live-streamed on cbstv.com. For more information, please visit carnavalsanfrancisco.org!
Los Van Van will be also performing a night show after their Carnaval SF appearance starting at 10 pm at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission Street in San Francisco. Rueda Con Ritmo will be giving a dance performance and DJ’s Dark Rum and DJ Carlitos Way will be the openers. Los Van Van are scheduled to start around 11 pm. I will be your MC for the evening!
Have a blast, stay safe and take care of each other during this beloved annual celebration!
More music news for the weekend: The Latin Rhythm Boys will headline the post Carnaval party at The Ramp, 855 Terry Francois Blvd in SF with DJ Mendy. Doors open at 5 pm on Saturday….Vocal dynamo Christelle Durandy and her Sanktet will be at Keys Jazz Bistro, 498 Broadway SF. Shows at 7 and 9 pm…..Sonora Dinamita with Vilma Diaz will also have a night show after Carnaval at Oakland’s The New Parish, 1743 San Pablo Avenue at 18th Street in Oakland starting at 9 pm. Opening up will be Suenatron and El Dusty! Brought to you by Jaffe Events who is also bringing up Salsa By The Bay with the Franco Brothers and Orquesta Actualidad on Sunday, May 28th from 2 to 8 pm at the Building 43 Winery in Alameda…..Braulio Barrera’s new band Con Kimba and KPFA/KPOO DJ Jose Ruiz will be at the Seahorse on Sunday, May 28, 5pm!
Live Appearances
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