RAICES (Latin American roots band) in Concert

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Saturday, November 22nd, 2014
7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

Come for a night of Latin American music with RAICES at Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant.

RAICES: A tribute to the Latin-American Folkloric Music 

The richness of Latin-American folkloric music is amazing, with a mosaic of rhythms, styles, instrumentation, and languages that are colourful, passionate and surprising as one scans through the Latin-American geography. The chief motivation behind the formation of RAICES was sharing this cultural legacy with the people of Nanaimo, the city where all six members of the band reside, work, and enjoy our lives. RAICES is a Spanish word for “roots”, which we thought encompassed our identity as Canadians with family and cultural roots that go deep into Latin-American soil. The members of RAICES are Antonio Vélez, and Bill Smith Nuñez from Mexico, Artemio Velazquez from Guatemala, Antonio Barroso from Bolivia, Andres Araujo from Colombia and Ben Giordano from Monaco. You may be righteously wondering what Monaco has to do with this endeavour. Well, Ben grew up in France, and after lots of traveling developed deep connections with the Latin-American culture. 

The repertoire of music covers a vast variety of styles of folklore, roots and traditional music from Latin-American countries such as Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Guatemala, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela & Uruguay. Featured alongside our vocals are string instruments such as Spanish guitar, Mexican jarana, requinto jarocho, Venezuelan cuatro, and charango, wind instruments such as zampoña, cicus, and quena, and Latin percusions such as congas, bongos, and Peruvian cajón among many other instruments. 

We had our first rehearsal in the fall of 2012 with the common vision of growing as a group to become creditable ambassadors of this beautiful music and in that way enhance the multicultural richness of Nanaimo, British Columbia and Canada. Our first official concert took place on May 18, 2013 at the Vault, in downtown Nanaimo, where we witnessed firsthand, the power of music that transcended borders and languages and brought people together from different backgrounds with the single purpose of having a great time. We also had a blast playing with a full house and the presence of many Nanaimo residents of Latin-American origin that graciously support our efforts. 

We really hope to make Latin-American folkloric music known to the people of Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, and if doors open, beyond this gorgeous island. We feel fortunate that everyone who hears our music are taken to another place and time and have the opportunity to celebrate and explore the songs and rhythms of Latin America. 

Long live roots music!!