Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University invites you to explore the world of contemporary Latin music this week with some of Colombia’s hottest music exports.

The University has partnered with the Embassy of Colombia in Australia, State Library of Queensland and Pura Vida Roadshow with the support of Wallonie-Bruxelles International, to showcase legendary bands Frente Cumbiero and La Chiva Gantiva.

A free lecture for the public this Thursday 6 March at 2.00pm at the South Bank campus will see musical director, musicologist, band leader and record label owner Mario Galeano talk about the tropical musical heritage of Colombia and his new approaches in composition, arrangement and production.

Galeano’s band, Frente Cumbiero, will also give live demonstrations from his landmark CD, Ondatrópica – considered by Sounds & Colours ‘a modern masterpiece’ and voted by Mojo magazine, the #1 World Music Album of the Year.

Free Public Lecture
2.00pm, Thursday 6 March
Ian Hanger Recital Hall
Queensland Conservatorium
Grey Street, South Bank

A free public concert will also follow on Friday 7 March from 8.00pm complete with bone-shaking carnival grooves, Afro-Caribbean sounds and tropical rhythms at the State Library of Queensland on the Queensland Terrace. You can book your tickets here.

Both bands draw on Colombian rhythms of yesteryear and are also international in their musical vision — reviving and reinterpreting folkloric forms with electronica, funk, rap, dub and DJ culture.

View the Full program here and follow on facebook.