Grupo Niche from Cali is one of Colombia’s seminal Salsa bands. The band, founded by Jairo Varela and Alexis Lozano in 1978, still tours regularly with new members.
- Grupo Niche plays Salsa Colombiana at Bergen PAC in Englewood, NJ on Saturday, November 19, 2022 at 8pm. From $39. bergenpac.org 🇨🇴
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 a one-night stand.
Cali is the Capital of Salsa. Salsa music and dancing are deeply embedded in Cali’s cultural identity. At parties in Colombia, you want to dance with a Caleño.
Grupo Niche is a Colombian Party
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.
Grupo Niche is 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 band. 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.
For more information, visit GrupoNiche.com
Grupo Niche Music
November 24, 2020 ~ Grupo Niche’s “40” is nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album.
Previously in New York City
Grupo Niche plays Salsa Colombiana at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on July 22, 2022 at 10pm. $50. 🇨🇴
Grupo Niche plays Salsa Colombiana at Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn during New York Puerto Rico Week on Sat, Jun 11, 2022 at 8pm. From $71. barclayscenter.com 🇨🇴
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Grupo Niche and India play Salsa at Radio City Music Hall in Rockefeller Center on Sat, Feb 12 at 8pm. From $96. 🇵🇷🇨🇴
Saturday, March 7, 2020 ~ Grupo Niche plays a 40th Anniversary Concert at Lehman Center in Jerome Park, The Bronx at 8pm. From $45
Saturday, October 19, 2019 ~ The band plays Kupferberg Center at Queens College in Flushing, Queens. From $39
Friday, July 12, 2019 ~ The band plays La Boom in Woodside, Queens at 10pm. From $38
Saturday, June 8, 2019 ~ The band plays the 35th New York Salsa Festival at Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn at 8pm. From $76
Niche plays Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, New Jersey on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at 8 pm. From $39. This should be a good show. Englewood, New Jersey has a large Colombian community.
Niche plays The New York Salsa Festival at Barclays Center in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn on Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 8 pm. $72 – $146+
Cuban-American singer Willy Chirino (creator of the Miami Sound) joins Niche at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 8 pm. $49 – $175
Vallenato band Binomio de Oro de América joins Niche at La Boom in Woodside, Queens on Friday, September 8, 2017 at 10 pm. $30
