Remembering Rafael Escalona, composer (1927 - 2009)
Rafael Escalona was one of Colombia's most important musical lyricists and composers, revolutionising Colombia's vallenato tradition, modernizing the music's rough, accordion-based sound via the addition of vividly…
Maison Cachua by Fernando Montaño
Former Royal Ballet dancer and Colombian dance megastar Fernando Montaño launches new bespoke luxury fashion brand
Padel in the Country
When everyone begins claiming they invented it, you know it’s catching on. From the Argentine suburbs and Mexican millionaire residencies to the phenomenal spawn of canchas in Spain (making it the nation’s second favourite sport…
'City of a Thousand Trades', 'Imminent' and the 'Chacona'
Consisting of a 3 piece performance, including the works 'City of a Thousand Trades', 'Imminent', and the 'Chacona', a new piece curated by Carlos Acosta, this enjoyable and thought-provoking triple…
Spotlight on...Mariah Angeliq
The talented Dominican and Puerto Rican rapper and singer has been climbing up the Latin music scene as are her songs in the charts!
Luisa Santiago, Singer-Song Writer
Luisa Santiago is a Colombian-born, London-bred singer pianist who calls on the best of both worlds: her roots in Salsa and Latin music and a love of UK Soul and R&B. Luisa’s songwriting, piano playing and sweet vocals, honed…
MY HEART GOES BOOM! Dir. Nacho Álvarez
Following the popularity of new musicals like ‘La la Land’(2016), or even Pablo Larrain’s hypnotic ‘Ema’ (2019), Uruguayan debut director Nacho Álvarez has launched into features with an ambitious, funny and cheerful musical…
Retracing Galeano’s Open Veins
‘Gold, Oil and Avocados, A Recent History of Latin America in Sixteen Commodities’ by Andy Robinson is an account of export extractivism in Latin America. Robinson argues that to understand the major political upheavals in Latin…
Facundo Cabral - Argentine singer-songwriter, philosopher and writer (1937 - 2011)
Described as a ‘worldwide messenger of peace’ by the United Nations, and a voice of protest against Argentina’s military dictatorship from 1976 to 1982, Cabral remains one of Latin America’s most celebrated folk musicians.
The Good Boss (El Buen Patrón 2021) by Spanish director Fernando León de Aranoa
The delightful comedy 'The Good Boss' is being screened at the Riverside Cinema from July 15th- 2022. It was shown at the 2021 BFI London Film Festival following its première at the 2021 San Sebastian International…
Felipe Pirela 'The Bolerista of the Americas' (1941 - 1972)
Dying tragically at the untimely age of 31, Felipe Pirela was considered one of the most promising and celebrated boleristas of his day and the first Venezuelan to sell over a million records.
CUÑADOS (2021) by Toño López
Screened at the 2021 London Spanish Film Festival, ‘CUÑADOS’ (Brothers- in- Law 2021) is a delightful caper in the local language by Galician director Toño López and a great tonic for a cold autumn evening. Eduardo and his…
Azor (2021) by Andreas Fontana
‘Smell Fear like a Dog’. Andreas Fontana’s film AZOR (2021) showing at the BFI London Film Festival is a slow-burning thriller that enters the murky waters of Private Banking in Argentina during the Dirty War.
Río Turbio: women marginalised by the mine
Filmmaker and archivist Tatiana Mazú González sheds light on the role of women in the Río Turbio miner’s struggle
Arcangel's Latest Album: Los Favoritos 2.5
The legendary Arcangel does it once again with this latest album Los Favoritos 2.5 filled with 15 songs. This album is not one to sleep on! It gives you the old school reggaeton vibes mixed with a few tracks with he new school…
‘No one should be buried in a place where you can’t leave flowers…’
No one was more surprised or moved than the author Juan Alberto Salvatierra when, in 1985, he heard on the radio that Joe Strummer, the legendary front man of The Clash was, with musician Jesús Arias, in an olive grove in Granada…
Brazil: Independence Celebrations Mark a Day of Divisions, over Unity
Clorrie Yeomens reflects on the trauma and mixed feelings that Brazilian Independence Day conjures up for many Brazilians
Strawberry and Chocolate (Fresas y chocolate- Cuba 1993)
Strawberry and Chocolate is a delightful 1993 film by Cuban directors Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabio. It is being screened as part of the CASA FESTIVAL 2021 which will run throughout September 2021. The festival…
‘SON OF MONARCH’ (Hijo de Monarcas) written and Directed by Alexis Gambis - Mexico/ US 2020
A collage of memories and events fragment like dreams when they collide with reality, in French-Venezuelan’s director Alexis Gambis’ film ‘SON OF MONARCH’ 2020.
Clara Nunes, A Guerreira.
Some consider Clara Nunes to be the greatest samba and MPB singer of her generation. She was the first female singer in Brazil to sell over 100,000 copies of a record,with "Tristeza Pé No Chão" and her achievements…
EL FATHER PLAYS HIMSELF (2020) dramatic documentary directed by Mo Scarpelli
“The root of all shades of machismo is fear, the root of family is love. In ‘EL FATHER PLAYS HIMSELF’ this fear and love collide.”
Reggaeton Legend: Julio Voltio
Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Julio Ramos (Julio Voltio), became of the most well-known reggaeton artists of the mid-2000s, Voltio worked his way up the ranks for many years, expanding his reach with his successful releases.
Latina Homegrown
Sweetness, strength, ambition and beauty are the words that encapsulate this unique group of talent trying to break through the many barriers of London's difficult world of urban music. What’s the biggest challenge; as women…
‘THE FEVER’ (A Febre -2019) by Brazilian director Maya Da-Rin -
“Like a hunter with no prey”- The multi-award winning ‘THE FEVER’ has a haunting, dreamy quality. We are immediately immersed in the quiet, alienated world of the protagonist, who is surrounded by an environment dominated by…
Spotlight on...Fuego!
The Dominican star has been in the game for over 10 years, and has gained even more popularity over the last couple of years.
J Balvin "El niño de Medellin" review
J Balvin bares soul and fights with conscience in his brilliantly told story.
Diaspora Music: Venezuela
In recent years, there’s been a lot of talk of the global domination of Latin Music. A big contributor to this phenomenon has been the Latin diaspora - artists making music outside their countries. In this first feature of our…
Minimalist vampire movie with a twist: ‘MY HEART CAN ONLY BEAT WHEN YOU TELL IT TO” .
Colombian-American Jonathan Cuartas has hit the ground running with his debut feature, ‘MY HEART CAN ONLY BEAT WHEN YOU TELL IT TO’, a moving tale of two dysfunctional siblings trying to protect their frail little brother against…
Spotlight on...Yendry
Meet the uprising Dominican star Yendry who is doing music on her own terms, showing the whole world that you cannot put her in any box as she defies all labels. The breathtaking artist interlaces Afro-Caribbean rhythms from the…
Reggaeton Legends: Vico C
Vico C is considered one of the greatest artists in the history of the Urban genre in Latin America and Spain. Reflective, deep, socially conscious and catchy and danceable lyrics are what Vico C songs are made for all kind of…
Latin America Criminalises Mining Protest
All over Latin America mining protest is being criminalised by government legislation. Protestors in Andalgalá, Argentina are arrested and beaten, while in Brazil the Munduruku are fighting Anglo American, financed by US…
Spotlight on...L-Gante
Ahead of his debut London appearance this Friday we profile the pioneer of 'RKT' - a musical genre that stems from mixing reggaetón beats and cumbia villera sounds, a style very particular to Argentina, with heavy tones…
A Brief History of Latin Music in London
Notwithstanding the cheesy album covers and the pastiche distortions of Latin dance on BBC’s Strictly’, London has had a long and idiosyncratic affair with Latin culture. From the hi-flying success of Edmundo Ros’ Latin Big Band…
Venezuela: Trochas de la Información
Produced by Circuito Gran Cine, a collective of film makers based in Venezuela, this film is one of a series about the difficulties Venezuelans have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, ranging from water shortages to the lack of…