Miami’s premier Cuban folk music ambassadors Cortadito will celebrate the release of their new album The Guajiro Triangle and honor Cuban music icons the Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC) on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Florida Keys Brewing Company (81611 Old Highway, Islamorada) beginning at 6 p.m.
The following afternoon, Fusión Vayu will represent Colombian folk music in all of its colorful variations, with selections from DJ Supa Kundukta beginning at 3 p.m.
Both concerts are free and open to all ages, to be held in the beer garden, and are presented by the Miami nonprofit Community Arts and Culture (CAC).
“Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to showcase our hispanidad, and we’re excited to be presenting Cortadito and Fusión Vayu to Latin music fans in and around Islamorada,” said CAC founder and executive director Jose Elias. “We thank the Florida Keys Brewing Company and our fans in Monroe County for their continued support.” Elias is also Cortadito’s co-founder and tresero.
Since its origins 13 years ago, the award-winning Cortadito has evolved into one of the torchbearers of a pop culture phenomenon that is two centuries strong. A traditional folk and acoustic band that focuses on performing one of the earliest styles of Cuban country music known as Son (pronounced sOwn), their sound can best be described as reminiscent of the famed BVSC.
The band has just released a third album single called “Guajira En La Madrugada” written by the late Alberto Pantaleon Hernandez and featuring guest vocals by the Havana powerhouse Aymée Nuviola. The first two album singles, “A Yemayá” (with Nestor Torres) and “Aqui Te Traigo Me Son” have been well received by critics and fans alike, amassing new followers and thousands of views and streams. The band will have vinyl copies of the Guajiro Triangle for sale at the event.
Cortadito was recently featured on NPR’s Alt Latino podcast and is gaining momentum in foreign markets like Mexico, Colombia, France, and Spain. The Sept. 13 show will be the first stop of their regional tour which also includes dates in Central Florida and North Carolina.
Composed of members of Group Barrio Abajo, Fusión Vayo plays the folkloric music of the Caribbean Colombia by using traditional percussion instruments and flutes, with modern instruments, presenting styles such as bullerengue, porro, chandé, and more than 30 other musical rhythms. Their home country is known for cumbia and vallenato, but these are just two parts of their musically diverse heritage.
FKBC is the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery and is located in the Morada Way Arts and Cultural District. It has a regular selection of beers, as well as a rotating list of seasonal and barrel aged beers, on draft.
DJ Supa Kundukta will be spinning a variety of music from Hispanic countries throughout the Antilles and the Americas on Sunday.
This event is sponsored by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
More information is at CACMiami.org.
