Latin Alternative in NYC is a contemporary blend of Rock with Latin rhythms, usually sung in Spanish. It is really a catch-all term for the many fusions Latin artists are creating now.
The cover image is Puerto Rican percussionist, composer and leader Ama Rios, from her “PICC Flow Suite.” Ama was the first female Bomba prima (lead drummer) in Puerto Rico. Given that Bomba is a flirting dance between the dancer and lead drummer, having a female lead drummer, in a machista (male chauvinist) culture, was revolutionary. Ama is working her way through chemotherapy. She deserves all our support. Bendiciones Ama. 🇵🇷
Latin Alternative NYC
Summer’s LAMC Latin Alternative Music Conference is the highlight of Latin Alternative in NYC.
Snarky Puppy Features Silvana Estrada, Sílvia Pérez-Cruz, Gaby Moreno, and Fuensanta for the World Music Institute at Kings Theatre
KINGS THEATRE, Flatbush, Brooklyn 🇬🇹 🇲🇽 🇪🇸 🇺🇸
Federico Aubele, Argentine Alternative at Joe’s Pub
JOE’S PUB AT THE PUBLIC THEATER, NoHo, Manhattan 🇦🇷
Leyla McCalla Sings Alternative Folk Music of the African Diaspora at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater
JOE’S PUB AT THE PUBLIC THEATER, NoHo, Manhattan 🇭🇹 🇺🇸 🇧🇷 🇪🇹
iLe Brings Her Puerto Rican Alternative to Sony Hall
SONY HALL, Times Square Theater District, Manhattan
Radio City Music Hall is The World’s Largest Indoor Theater
Juanes Colombian rock 🇨🇴
Gloria Trevi Mexican pop rock 🇲🇽
Gilberto Santa Rosa “Auténtico” Puert Rican salsa 🇵🇷
Silvestre Dangond ‘Ta Malo Colombian vallenato 🇨🇴
Tony Touch “The Piece Maker Concert” Puerto Rican hip hop 🇵🇷
Hombres G 40 Aniversario Spanish pop rock 🇪🇸
ROCKEFELLER CENTER, Midtown, Manhattan
Locobeach Plays Cumbia Pop at Sleepwalk
SLEEPWALK, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 🇻🇪
globalFEST is a World Music Showcase at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center
DAVID GEFFEN HALL, Lincoln Center, Manhattan ~ alternative, bomba, folk, R&B, rock, world music. 🇺🇸 🇧🇷 🇩🇴 🇫🇷 🇮🇳 🇲🇽 🇲🇦 🇵🇷 🇿🇦 🇪🇸 🇺🇦
Yasser Tejeda Plays Afro-Dominican Alternative for globalFEST at Lincoln Center
DAVID GEFFEN HALL, Lincoln Center, Manhattan ~ globalFEST world music showcase. 🇩🇴
Villalobos Brothers Play Mexican Alternative for globalFEST at Lincoln Center
DAVID GEFFEN HALL, Lincoln Center, Manhattan ~ globalFEST world music showcase. 🇲🇽
February 2023
Edna Vázquez blends Mexican mariachi and American folk, pop and rock into something fabulous for Carnegie Hall Citywide; at the LGBT Community Center in Manhattan’s West Village; on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 7:30pm. FREE! 🏳️🌈🇲🇽
November 2022
Locobeach, and its own Cheo Pardo (DJ Afro), play Psychedelic Cumbia with Underground System (Afrobeat) for the World Music Institute at Nublu 151 in Manhattan’s East Village on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 8pm (7pm doors). From $20. 🇻🇪
October 2022
Mexican Pop-Rock-Folk singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade makes her Carnegie Hall debut on the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 8pm. 🇲🇽
What is Latin Alternative?
Latin Alternative is a blend of Rock with Latin rhythms, usually sung in Spanish. It’s an broadening and softening of the Rock form. Latin Alternative followed Latin Rock in the same way that Soft Rock followed Hard Rock, and Salsa Romántica followed Salsa Dura.
The term “Latin Alternative” is a catch-all for the many fusions Latin artists are creating now. There are many singer-songwriters and contemporary fusions of many traditional forms including: Haitian Kompa, Trinidad Soca, Guadalupe and Martinique Zouk, Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, Honduran Parranda and more.
Some say Santana started the form when he mixed Rock with Latin on Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va” in 1970. “Bueno pa’ gozar.”
Argentine rocker and double Academy Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla (Arco Iris, Bajofondo, “Brokeback Mountain” and “Babel.”) moved to Los Angeles in 1977 where he produced a lot of Rock en Español which evolved into Latin Alternative. He’s the padrino (godfather).
NPR’s Alt.Latino also played a role in the genre’s development.
Like most Latin music, Latin Alternative comes from a little bit of everyone.