
LATIN LONDONER #8 BIanca Jagger - Style Diva and Human Rights Activist
A ‘one off’, a glamorous Latin American who has poured her passion and pride into doing the right thing; an example of Latin American solidarity personified.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez - 6th March 1927 - 17th April 2014
“What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it.”
Bolivia Clasica
Making her professional debut aged eight years old, a Gold Record aged eleven, and performing at the White House aged twelve, pianist Ana-Maria Vera has remained devoted to chamber music ever since, performing across the globe…
LATIN LDONDONER #7 Julieta Hernández Adame - Visual Artist
Mexican born Julieta Hernández Adame is a talented artist and printmaker who skilfully uses the urban, the industrial and above all the power of words to make us reflect on the world we leave in. She was voted the Visual Artist…
Sara Chandler - Human Rights Worker
There is much to say about Prof. Sara Chandler, Chair of the Colombia Caravan UK Lawyers Group and the winner of LUKAS Award for Charity or Human Rights Worker of the Year. Read what she told us about her fascinating life and…
LATIN LONDONER #6 Camilo Menjura - Musician and ChoIr Master
One of London’s most loved singer-songwriters and choir master, this two-time LUKAS winner for Musician of Year specializes in Afro-Colombian, Afro-Peruvian and Andean Jazz. Camilo is also a renowned choral master, leading the…
LATIN LONDONER #5 Katya Torres de la Rocha - Entrepreneur
Mexican born Katya Torres de la Rocha, is the CEO of www.mexgrocer.co.uk. which sells authentic Mexican food groceries and at 40 years old was voted Business Personality of the Year by both the public and the judges. Here is her…
LATIN LONDONER #4 Sonia Lollia - Zumba Teacher
Parisian born Sonia Isabelle Lollia is half Spanish and Guadeloupan and grew up in a small village outside Paris before coming to London and becoming Zumba Teacher of the Year 2014
Surrogate Latino #2 Monika Molnar - Samba Dancer and Teacher
Monika Molnar is a Hungarian from Slovakia and two times LUKAS winner of the Brazilian Dance Teacher Award. Here is her story
LATIN LONDONER #3 LAMAR - Vocalist, Composer, Producer
Born in Barcelona in 1979, Javier Moreno got his Flamenco influence from his Andalucian dad. He grew up in a little Catalunyan village, playing in the streets and 'with a great sense of freedom' Moreno before emigrating…
Mercedes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America (1935 - 2009)
It is 11 years since Mercedes Sosa - the singer and exponent of what became known as 'nueva cancion' - died, but her musical legacy lives on, not just in her native Argentina or even Latin America but across the globe.…
The Salsa Group that IS Cali - an interview wth Grupo Niche
It has been said that 'Grupo Niche IS Cali and Cali IS Niche', indeed Niche is the most significant band to come out of the Colombian cIty that is known as the 'Capital of Salsa' more, and arguably out of…
La Chiva se enganche!
La Chiva Gantiva are a heady mix of Colombian and Belgian musicians. With inspiration from Toto La Momposina and Afro Coloombian music, the six piece have turned into a fiery cultural sound clash full of life and colour. With a…
Camilo Menjura on life and LUKAS nominations
Camilo Menjura is certainly a very busy musician! The Bogota born multi-talented player is once again up for a LUKAS nomination, having won in two categories "Musician of the year" and "Community worker of the year…
Flamenco Fusion's Force of Nature
Ojos de Brujo's frontwoman and songwriter Marinah goes solo with her first album, Baile de las Horas, which she performs at Rich Mix in April."The change is what I needed: to get out of Ojos and do something different.…
El Emigrante: Javier Moreno on his Lukas nomination and life in the UK…
Javier Moreno currently resides in London, when I spoke to him on a lovely sunny morning he was off to work on his side project: a Catalan inspired café! Born in Barcelona from a Catalan mother and Andalusian father, Javier has…
Alma Antigua - The Young Guatalaman with Vintage Charm
Described by The New York Times as having a ‘tangy, bluesy voice with the feistiness of Edith Piaf,’ there is something definitely old-worldy about the Guatemalan singer-songwriter who has a Latin Grammy, tours with Ricardo…
What Happens When London Gospel goes Latin
The London Community Gospel Choir is a musical force to be reckoned with. With a career spanning over 30 years, and led by the dynamic and charismatic Bazil Meade, LCGC is known for its funky gospel flair, swing-beat, R’n'B…
We Owe Paco So Much
Paco Peña, one of the world's most celebrated flamenco guitarists mourns an irreplaceable Flamenco soul and friend
Paco de Lucia
Paco de Lucía: (Francisco Sánchez Gomez), guitarist and composer, born 21 December 1947; died 25 February 2014
TOP TEN Recent Latin Albums produced in the UK
Latin music is not an easy thing to produce, let alone promote, in the UK; you need real instruments, great musicians and arrangements to make it sound good, and there is rarely any money to work on. Despite the lack of exposure…
Tierra Peru
A thoughtful menu and a obvious passion for bringing the best of Peru to London that will delight both Peruvophiles and Islington Residents
CUBAN FURY (2013) dir. James Griffiths
Starring British comedy actor Nick Frost, a warm-hearted if not warm-blooded salsa comedy; representing more the awkward British take on salsa than its true corazon.
The TransAtlantic Family
Family Atlantica are just that: a family. The band consists of British born Jack Yglesias, a producer and multi-instrumentalist, his wife Luzmira Zerpa, a Venezuelan traditional musician, singer and poet who has received…
LATIN FLAVA – The bloom and burst of London’s Latin and Hispanic cuisine
From Peruvian and Mexican haute cuisine to Colombian and Venezuelan street food, via the meaty Argentine parillas and Brazilian rodizios, London is the latest city to be hit by the global craze in Latin cuisine. Spanish TV Star…
The Fire Within
One of the most successful comedy actors of recent years, Nick Frost plays a depressed office worker in his latest film, who is forced to discover and unleash his ‘Cuban fury’ in order to overcome a bullying boss and …yes,…
The Legend Becomes The Teacher
Antonio Canales is considered one of the greatest Spanish Flamenco Dancers of all time. Once one of the world's biggest Flamenco celebrities, he now dedicates his time to choreography and teaching. Having given a week of…
Cuchi Cuchi all over the world
With over 20 years of acid-jazz influenced funky songs, cool riffs, and absurd lyrics Los Amigos Invisibles are one of the world's coolest cult outfits. Starting in the 1990s Chulius, Cheo, Odnam, Maurimix, Catire and…
FOUND IN TRANSLATION
In 2014 we awarded Osvaldo Ardiles The lifetime Achievement Award at the LUKAS. Why? Because this little Argentine is one of the most important figures in the history of Latin American football in the UK. Without Ossie, there…
The Bogotá Mayor Scandal - separating the politics from the rubbish
Mayor Gustavo Petro's sacking late last year caused public protest and political a political storm. Nevertheless, on the 13th January, the Inspector General confirmed the decision and Petro's cause seemed to be lost,…
Where to see the Semana Santa in Spain
Few countries in the world take their Easter celebrations quite so seriously as Spain, one of the most popular celebrations is Semana Santa. Strange as it may seem, this staunchly Catholic country reflecting on crucifixion and…
Wahaca at St Paul’s
The colours and design of the new Wahaca restaurant are as diverse and distinctive as the flavours you can taste in the food they serve.
‘Siembra’ and the Birth of The Latin Nation
In 1978, Ruben Blades, a young Panamanian “Sonero” and Willie Colon, a New York-born trombone player, producer and poster boy for the already booming salsa industry of New York, got together and released what would become the…
Fuerza Bruta @ The Roundhouse
The Hyperactive Argentine spectacle at The Roundhouse until March 2nd