Gigs:

Alda Rezende, Thursday, 22 September, The Playhouse
 visit:  http://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/what-is-on/event-details.aspx?eventID=7535

Aline Calixto and Martin Buscaglia,  Friday 23 September, Garema Place,          FREE EVENT

Renegado and Desorden Publico, Tuesday, 04 October, ANU Bar, Canberra  visit:  http://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=PURAVIDA11

The Pura Vida Latin Music Festival is a celebration of the diversity, eclecticism and sophistication of contemporary urban Latin culture. More than ten bands will be performing at major venues and festivals around Australia. It starts on 17^th September in Canberra and, after stops in Melbourne and Brisbane, finishes in Sydney on 6^th October with artists from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay & Venezuela performing at prestigious venues and festivals around the country.

The road show makes stops in Canberra with performances in Garema Place (presented by Canberra CBD Limited) as part of the series Salsa, Samba, Cumbia, Tango and More Salsa in the City (Every Sat & Sunday from September 17 until October 1, with visiting international bands and DJs); plus a massive Concert in the City with Martin Buscaglia & Aline Calixto (September 23^rd). Other performances include NewActon as part of Nishi’s Open Day (September 25); Floriade’s Carnival in the Park (October 2-3) and at the ANU Bar (October 4^th). There will also be a master class by world renowned drummer Esdra “Nenem” Ferreira at the School of Music of the Australian National University (September 22^nd).

CEO of Canberra CBD Limited, Steve Gregory, says “we have worked with the Pura Vida organisers to bring something unique into the Canberra city centre. From an original discussion around possible sponsorship we have gone on to collaboratively build a Latin dancing experience in the city centre over 3 weekends. International DJs, International bands and performers”.  “This is another first for Canberra CBD Limited”, he adds.

“Pura Vida Latin Music Festival was born to offer Australia an opportunity to explore one of Latin America’s best ready for export product, an amazing catalogue of music… says Frank Madrid, producer of the road show.  We wanted to stay away from stereotypes and present a wide array of artists and genres, as eclectic and diverse as possible.”

The line up includes some internationally-celebrated acts including ground-breaking techno folk ensemble and brainchild of Academy Award Winner Gustavo Santaolalla, Terraplén; Grammy Award winning Afro-Colombian hip-hop trio Choc Quib Town, and iconic Ska band Desorden Público with their mix of ska, Latin rock, reggae and traditional Latin music. The fusion of Latin American sounds continues with Victor Valdes & The Marin Brothers’ blend of Andean sounds and contemporary rock; and Brazilian hip-hop artist Renegado’s mix of Reggae, Maracatu, Cuban music and Samba with North American Rap.

Salsa and Samba lovers will appreciate one of Australia’s hottest salsa bands, Chukale, accompanying legendary musicians from Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club; the Brazilian Queen of Nu Samba, Aline Calixto; and world renowned Venezuelan Salsa DJ, Dwight “Chocolate” Escobar. For those interested in a truly unique experience, the Festival presents the dramatically unusual voice of Alda Rezende accompanied by master of percussion Esdra “Nenem” Ferreira with a mix of Jazz, Bossa Nova, Samba and Pop; as well as Uruguayan boy-wonder Martin Buscaglia, who is some kind of South American Prince with luscious candombe-funk music that is gentle, percussive and very groovy, like Beck in pure Tropicalia style.

If music lovers need more reasons to be part of the Pura Vida Latin Music Festival, if they buy their tickets through Moshtix, they will be in the draw to win a truly amazing experience of Machu Pichu, Peru. Two very lucky Pura Vida Latin Music Festival-goers that can identify five icons from the Festival’s image of Carmen Miranda’s head will be able to continue their Latin American experience with an Intrepid Travel tour to the extraordinary Machu Pichu.