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[3/8] Preview: Kiko, Krudas and Bamako Airlines at Flamingo Cantina

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Those of you in town looking for an international Austin music experience tonight might want to turn your heads towards Flamingo Cantina. Two of Austin’s most diverse Latin artists and a local Afropop group will kick off the South By Southwest interactive weekend with a certain flare only found at Flamingo Cantina. Trust us, we outta know.

Austin-based Kiko Y La Banda open the showcase at 9:30 p.m. Lead by Colombian-American musician Kiko Villamizar, a talented vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist, the group’s music is a fusion of Latin jazz, Afro-Colombian and reggae.Villamizar is also the curator of Austin’s best Latin jam sessions.

Bamako Airlines is an Afropop group fronted by Meera Chandy, a trained vocalist in Indian classical music. Composed of eight veteran musicians with backgrounds in a variety of genres, the group performs original songs and music from various regions in Africa. The group caught our attention at the old World Music Night showcases at Momo’s and have played with some of our Latin favorites ever since.Bamako Airlines perform at 11 p.m.

Closing the night out are Austin-based Cubanas, Krudas Cubensi. Composed of Olivia Prendes and Odaymara Cuesta (Pasa Kruda), the Cuban born rap artists have been bringing Latina revolution style hip hop to the world since 1997. Krudas Cubensi perform at 12:30 a.m.

Flamingo Cantina is located at 515 E. 6th Street. Doors open at 9 p.m. 21+ are welcome. Cover is $5.

[1/2] Preview: Austin Vida Free Week showcase at Frank

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Free Week has officially begun Austin! The annual event is a festival of sorts when independent Austin venues host free shows that showcase Austin’s local talent during the first week after New Year’s Day. In 2011, Austin Vida hosted the first ever Latino indie Free Week showcase at Stubb’s and in in 2012, we hosted four Free Week showcases all over town. With the help of some friends at Pachanga and The City of Austin, we were able to give Latin music a real presence during Free Week. The best part? We’re presenting four Free Week shows again this year, showcasing the multiple genres and groups within the “Latin” umbrella.

This year our Free Week kick off happens at local music venue and purveyor of the artisan sausage, Frank. We are taking the cultural singer-songwriter route with this one, presenting three of Austin’s most talented Latino groups and performers.

Austin singer-songwriter Gina Chavez was scheduled to perform tonight, as seen on the event poster to the left, but she had to cancel due to sore throat and flu-like symptoms. We wish her a speedy recovery and thank Kiko Villamizar for filling in on short notice. We’ll be sure to have Chavez on another showcase soon.

Performing with band mates from Kiko Y La Banda, Villamizar will open the showcase with his brand of traditional Vallenato, a popular folk genre from Colombia. Locally Villamizar is know for his new open Latin jam showcase series around town. Kiko Y La Banda perform at 10 p.m.

Son Jarocho collective Son Armado follow Kiko Y La Banda. Son Jarocho is a popular Mexican-based art form centered around community gatherings & celebrations known as Fandangos. The Fandango involves music, dancing, and poetry in the context of a communally created and shared space, with the tarima (a wooden dance platform) as the gathering point. Son Armado do this well and take the stage at 11 p.m.

Closing the night is first time Austin Vida showcase performer Mauricio Callejas. A self-proclaimed troubadour from El Salvador, Callejas is the founder of the first songwriter directory of Central America, www.centroamericanto.com and produces a weekly radio program that is broadcasted from different radio stations around the world. He is currently performing in support of his latest release, Helado Pop, that was co-produced by himself and Michael Ramos of Charanga Cakewalk. Callejas will perform at midnight.

Frank is located at 4th and Colorado street. All ages are welcome. No cover. Visit the official Facebook event page HERE for your chance to win a $20 Frank gift card to use at tonight’s show. Tonight’s show is sponsored in part by Pachanga Latino Music Fest and The City of Austin.



[10/20] Preview: Takoba’s 2nd annual Mezcal Fest

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Mezcal is a Mexican distilled alcoholic beverage that is made from the maguey plant. Although commonly associated with the Mexican state of Oaxaca, mezcal is produced in several different areas throughout Mexico. Many describe mezcal’s flavor as “smokey.”

On Saturday, October 20, Austin restaurant Takoba will be celebrating the Mexican beverage with their second annual Mezcal Fest. Attendees will get to try mezcal from 20 different varieties including Del Maguey, Wahaka, Illegal, Agave De Cortez, Los Nahuales and Fidencio. Takoba will serve specially crafted agave cocktails while attendees watch demonstrations of how mezcal is made.

Austin-based musician Kiko Villamizar will close out the night’s festivities on the outside patio with his group Kiko Y La Banda.

Takoba is located at 1411 E. 7th Street. 21+ are welcome. Event begins at 2 p.m. and concludes at sundown. Advance tickets are available for purchase at mezcalfest.eventbrite.com. Visit the event page on Facebook here.

Get a sample of Kiko Y La Banda below.

[8/23] Preview: Suns of Orpheus CD release at Antone’s

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Thursday will be a big day for Austin-based psychedelic world music band Suns of Orpheus. Austin’s Brazilian answer to Steely Dan, the group will be honored by The City of Austin declaring August 23 as “Suns of Orpheus Day” on the same day as their CD release show at Antone’s. Not bad for a band that formed in the summer of 2011.

Fronted by Brazilian funkster and songwriter Frederico Geib, Suns of Orpheus have just completed their new album Amoris Orbita (Love Orbit). For Amoris Orbita, the group worked with Grammy winning saxophonist Phillipe Vieux (Eddie Palmieri) and Martín Perna (AntiBalas-Ocote Soul Sounds). Amoris Orbita is the follow up to their debut self-titled EP.

Supporting Suns of Orpheus on Thursday night are three of the region’s best Latin bands. Austin-based Latin fusion band La Guerrilla are always a great party band, mixing traditional sounds of South America with ska and reggae. Bombasta, San Antonio’s barrio big band, joins the party with their Ozomatli-like fusion of urban sounds and traditional Latin rhythms. Kiko Villamizar opens with his fusion of Afro-Colombiano, vallenato, ska, reggae and salsa.

Antone’s is located at 213 W. 5th Street. Doors open at 8 p.m. Music starts at 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. Advance tickets for this event are available here. Visit the official Facebook event page here and on Do512 here.

Listen to “Deseo Mayor” from Suns of Orpheus below.