Grupo Niche in New York City is always a special treat. Their work in the 1980s made them Colombia’s iconic salsa orchestra.
They became one of the seminal Colombian salsa orchestras when they moved to Cali, the “Salsa Capital of the World,” in 1982. Salsa music and dancing are cultural there. Most Caleños dance, and dance really well. Niche’s anthems including “Una Aventura” and “Cali Pachanguero” are very popular with salsa dancers.
Thank you Carnegie Hall for sponsoring Grupo Niche in New York Latin Culture Magazine!
Grupo Niche in New York City
NOVEMBER
Prudential Center
Grupo Niche, the seminal Colombian salsa orchestra from Calí, the “Salsa Capital of the World,” play a “Salsa Pal’ Mundo” Tour with El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico for a double-header of some of the best salsa; at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey; on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 8pm. From $87. 🇨🇴 🇵🇷
APRIL
Carnegie Hall
Grupo Niche, the seminal Colombian salsa orchestra from Calí, the “Salsa Capital of the World,” play Carnegie Hall’s “Nuestros Sonidos” festival of Latin culture; on the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in Midtown, Manhattan; on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 8pm. From $36. 🇨🇴
OCTOBER
Kupferberg Center
Grupo Niche, plays their salsa classics and new Grammy-nominated album “Niche Sinfonico,” at Colden Auditorium at Kupferberg Center in Flushing, Queens; on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 8pm. From $59. 🇨🇴
JULY
Prudential Center
The Colombian Independence Festival at Prudential Center features Grupo Niche, El Gran Combo, La India, Jesse Uribe, Paola Jara, Francy, and Alex Sensation for a night of salsa and regional Mexican in Newark, New Jersey; on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 8pm. From $47. 🇨🇴
New York City Venues
- Barclays Center
- Bergen Performing Arts Center (Bergen PAC)
- Carnegie Hall
- Kupferberg Center for the Arts
- La Boom
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
- Radio City Music Hall
Grupo Niche
Grupo Niche from Cali is one of Colombia’s seminal salsa bands. Founded by Jairo Varela and Alexis Lozano in 1978, the band still tours regularly with new members.
The band’s anthems include “Cali Pachanguero” and Una Aventura. A “Pachanguero” is a party person, what in New York we call a “Club Kid.” “Una Aventura,” which literally means “an adventure” is Colombian slang for an affair or one-night stand.
Cali is “la Capital de la salsa. Salsa music and dancing are deeply embedded in Cali’s cultural identity. At parties in Colombia, you want to dance with a Caleño or Caleña.
If you are with Colombians, play some Niche and everyone will have a great time. If you are lucky you might even have una aventura.
The Cali Sound
Singer-songwriter Jairo Varela started the band in 1980. “Cali Pachanguero” (Cali Party Guy) from 1984’s “No Hay QUinto Malo” made them one of Colombia’s top bands. It is the national anthem of Cali, Colombia.
In 1985, founding member Alexis Lozano left Niche to found Orquesta Guayacán, another popular Colombian salsa orchestra. Band members would switch back and forth.
In the late 1980s the band went global. Niche is one of those long-lived national treasures that both absorbed and spun off a lot of talent over the years. They just keep playing Jairo Varela’s music. Great music is eternal.
Important Records
- “No hay quinto malo” (1984) included the Niche anthem “Cali Pachanguero”
- “Una Aventura” (1991) was released as a single.
Learn More
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