Radio Bemba Still Alive & Kicking in España

Greetings from Barcelona where things are in full swing in Catalunia! I’m taking a well deserved vacation from the daily grind! We’re visiting my in-laws family and old friends that I haven’t connected with for quite a number of years (including the dark COVID times). On the music front, Juan Luis Guerra, Ruben Blades, Oscar D’Leon, Alexander Abreu and Havana d’Primera and the renowned band from Barcelona, Tromboranga are busy touring Spain and Europe this Summer.

Tempo Latino, the most prestigious and biggest outdoor festival dedicated to Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Son and related music in Europe will be underway at the end of the month in the picturesque village of Vic Fezensac, France. The SF Bay Area’s own Grammy Award winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra will be opening up for Los Van Van on the opening Friday night show. Issac Delgado and his all star Con Tumbao project are the headliners on Saturday night. The Cuban sensation, vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Alain Perez(pictured left) and his band will headline on Sunday evening (Alain is also part of the Con Tumbao project with Issac, Pedrito Martinez and an array of all stars). Tempo-Latino’s main concerts are inside the bull ring with state of the art sound and video projections. There are bands and DJ’s outside the bull ring that play until 5:30 am! I was an invited guest DJ there in 20`10. There are bands featured on stages surrounding the bull ring all day! The entire village turns into a scene featuring Salsa, Afro-Cuban, Bachata, Son, Timba and Afro-Latin music in restaurants and clubs in the surrounding area. For information on the festival, go to www.tempo-latino.com.

A lot of Bay Area salseros are visiting the South Bay on Thursdays at Charley’s LG in Los Gatos. The likes of Julio Bravo y Salsabor, Edgardo and Candela, Carlos Xavier, Manny Martinez y La Rebeldia, The Franco Brothers and Orquesta Actualidad and Orquesta Taino have played this new hot spot. Carlos Xavier and his band will be appearing this coning Thursday, July 14 starting at 9 PM. Dance lessons with JC Camarena start at 8 pm. Since I’m visiting Europe, a guest DJ will take my place. For advance tickets and information, visit www.charleyslosgatos.com.