It was with great anticipation that returned to Charlotte this past weekend for the 21st Annual Latin American Festival. I reconnected with many of the musicians and friends that I met during my time in Charlotte. The festival was exciting- beautiful weather, good food, lots of people, and the main act- Aterciopelados! Plus, this year I wasn't working the event, so I got to relax and actually enjoy the festival. Here are some photos and explanations:
(Big) Product placement: Wells-Fargo and Coca-Cola.
The first band of the day was Fuzion Latina, which is a new group that sings cumbia and salsa, has a Peruvian lead singer and several members of other bands who sit in on drums and horns.
Jacobo poses with Rosalia as she paints a scene of the Festival. Notice the ICE agents carrying ice buckets.
Los Tarascos de Michoacan were the next band to perform. They play traditional music from Mexico with acoustic instruments.
Dancers from a ballet folklorico performed on the cultural stage.
The next performer was Gersy Nicolas, who sang bachata and merengue.
Staff from the Latin American Coalition took a break for lunch.
Student activists from the "Drop the 'I' Word" Campaign took the stage to talk about using the word "illegal."
Jose Conde was the next performer. He had a small band and sang some chill songs from his new album.
Atlanta's Apu Inka performed songs from Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador at the cultural stage.
Miami's Xperimento took the stage as the penultimate band. They played merengue, reggae, and cumbia, with some R&B mixed in, covering Bill Winters and featuring songs from their new album.
Some more folkloric dancers.
The Plaza de Artistas featured works by local artists.
The food aisle.
Coca-Cola puts its imprint on another Carolina tradition- cornhole.
By late afternoon, the crowd had begun to grow; this year the festival seemed to have its largest crowd ever.
One of the emcees, Sendy Mendez, works the crowd.
Aterciopelados' guitars awaited their entrance.
Andrea Echeverri, lead singer of Aterciopelados.
Venturing into the crowd.
"Florecita Rockera"
Sunset at the end of a long day of good music.
But wait, the afterparty was just getting started. Bakalao Stars opened up the Neighborhood Theatre for a free concert.
Then Xperimento livened up the audience with some reggae and cumbia.
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