“La Linea has built an impressive international reputation as one of the world’s most eclectic celebrations of Latin music.”
Time Out

La Linea ‘07 surpasses its already considerable reputation by staging tumultuous live favourites Cuba’s Los Van Van and LA’s Ozomatli; electronicalatino from the Argentinian Bajofondo Tango Club and Spain’s The Pinker Tones; the offspring of Brazilian legends João Gilberto and Caetano Veloso respectively re-fresh their heritage in the forms of Bebel Gilberto + Moreno-Domenico-Kassin + 2; and respect is offered originators: Buena Vista Social Club’s Eliades Ochoa returns for a rare visit, Los Patriarcas de la Rumba — a group of Catalan gypsies all aged between 60 and 75 years reclaiming the rumba are making their UK debut. Also, many years overdue, is the Father of the Mambo, peerless innovator in Latin music for over 60 years (and elder statesman of the Cuban bass playing dynasty which includes his nephew Cachaito of the Buena Vista Social Club) Israel López usually known simply and reverentially, as ‘Cachao’.

• Los Van Van Plus DJ Javier + DJ Dr Jim February 23rd Hammersmith Palais
•  La Linea ‘07 pre-launch party
• Ozomatli + Cultura Londres April 13th Shepherds Bush Empire
• Bajofondo Tango Club + Capitan Melao April 14th Barbican
• The Pinker Tones DJ Crew April 17th Cargo.
• Eliades Ochoa + Widescreen April 20th Barbican
• Chango Spasiuk April 24th Purcell Room
• Machaca April 26th Purcell Room.
• Bebel Gilberto + Moreno-Domenico-Kassin + 2 27th April Roundhouse
• Israel López ‘Cachao’ + Omar Puente & Robert Mitchell April 29th Barbican
• Patriarcas de la Rumba + LaXula April 30th Sadler’s Wells

Los Van Van Plus DJ Javier + DJ Dr Jim February 23rd Hammersmith Palais (La Linea ‘07 pre-launch party). 8.30. All tickets £18
La Linea launches two months ahead of schedule with Cuba’s biggest, funkiest dance orchestra. A very special carnival night in London’s most famous dancehall. Van Van will be on stage at 9.30pm and will be supported and followed by sets from London’s finest Cuban music DJs — Javier and Dr Jim playing for the dancers.

Formed in 1969 in Havana, Cuba, this 20-piece orchestra plays an irresistible brand of dance groove they created called ‘songo’ — a solid and invigorating fusion of rich Caribbean rhythms, Afro-Cuban drumming, salsa & rock/pop elements. This new sound became the rage of Havana and one of the most influential Cuban rhythms since the cha-cha-cha.

Cuba is a powerhouse in the development of popular music, and Los Van Van, the world’s premier Latin dance band, continues to rock the Cuban soul and ram dance-floors worldwide.
‘The best dance band in Cuba’ New York Times

Ozomatli + Cultura Londres April 13th Shepherds Bush Empire. 7pm. All Tickets £18
Ozomatli, the two-time Grammy winning West Coast Latin/Hip Hop collective, are a live phenomenon. In their legendary stage shows they deliver a righteous mash-up of salsa, ranchero, rock, jazz, funk and hip hop that is uniquely their own — standing still is not an option. This is their first gig in London for 2 years and they are guaranteed to nice up the area, big time.

Cultura Londres is a Hip Hop outfit using a mixture of Spanish and English vocals with live instruments and samples. Their debut album is to be released later this year and features amongst others Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill.

Bajofondo Tango Club + Capitan Melao April 14th Barbican. 7.30. Tickets: £15, £20, £25.
Bajofondo Tango Club is the electronic tango project lead by Gustavo Santaolalla, Oscar winning composer of the Brokeback Mountain score. Direct from Buenos Aires, with younger, faster virtuoso musicians, stunning visuals and extraordinary brokeback beats Bajofondo Tango Club is the band that we were told Gotan Project was. Santaolalla has been the producer of choice for Juanes and Café Tacuba and composed the scores for all of Alejandro González Iñárritu’s trilogy – Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel — but Bajofondo is where he straps on his guitar and dives into the past, present and future of tango as the night unfolds.

The Pinker Tones DJ Crew  April 17th Cargo. 7.00. Tickets: £12
The Pinker Tones are Electronic Latin Freaks from Barcelona who have been enjoying success all around the world with their eclectic mix of electronica, pop, indie, funk/soul, breakbeat ….and much more!

Eliades Ochoa + Widescreen April 20th Barbican. 7.30. Tickets: £15, £22.50,  £27.50
The return of the last sonero. Although Cuban guitar legend Eliades Ochoa made his UK debut a dozen years ago his star was in the ascendancy when he sang Chan Chan in Buena Vista Social Club. In the 21st century, with Compay Segundo Chan Chan’s composer now playing with the Latin music saints and Vieja Trova in retirement, Eliades remains as the hub and the shining light of acoustic, string and percussion driven Cuban son.
“The finest guitarist of his generation” Telegraph

Chango Spasiuk April 24th Purcell Room. 7.45. £15, £12
Argentina’s young chamamé hero is ready for the world. Born in the north-eastern rural province of Misiones, Chango Spasiuk grew up in a society defined by the fusion and interaction between native communities and Eastern European immigrants, like Chango’s grandparents. In Argentina ‘El Chango’ is celebrated as the guardian angel of chamamé, the powerful folk tradition of the Argentine Northeast and the “music with the deepest swing in Argentina”.

Machaca  April 26th Purcell Room. 7.45. £12
Machaca is the international ensemble fronted by award-winning Mexican guitarist and composer Morgan Szymanski — featuring some of the most exciting young musicians in the UK today including virtuoso violinist Ruth Rogers, soprano Laura Mitchell, and outstanding percussionists ODuo and cellist Gemma Rosefield.

Bebel Gilberto + Moreno-Domenico-Kassin + 2 27th April Roundhouse. Tickets: £25
This show features the offspring of 2 legends of Brazilian music: João Gilberto and Caetano Veloso.
Bebel Gilberto’s debut album Tanto Tempo became a phenomenon, selling a million copies around the globe and captivating audiences with its mix of classic bossa nova laced with cool electronica. Bebel will be celebrating the release of her new CD Momento on April 2nd and this show at the newly refurbished Roundhouse will be her only London appearance.
 
In support, Rio’s maverick dream team — Brazil’s cult producer Kassin with Moreno Veloso and Domenico Lancellotti [+2] — supply sublime trippycalia and subversive pop from their new album Futurismo due on 16th April.

Israel López ‘Cachao’ + Omar Puente & Robert Mitchell April 29th Barbican. Tickets: 7.30, £20, £25, £30

That’s right. At last, the UK debut for Israel ‘Cachao’ López. Cachao invented the mambo, in Havana in 1938 with his brother Orestes, by fusing up tempo Afro Cuban rhythms into the rather staid danzón and thus changed the history of the 20th century. He is the don of a bass-playing dynasty which according to urban legend is a lineage of anything from 35 to 100 bassists spanning two centuries and including Cachao’s nephew Cachaito in Buena Vista Social Club and has his star on Hollywood Blvd. Tonight, at the age of 88, having won a Grammy last year (his 5th, so far) and still at the height of his improvisational powers, he makes his London debut backed by a stellar band.

Patriarcas de la Rumba + LaXula April 30th Sadler’s Wells. Tickets £32 — £15
Patriarch is the name that because of his age and his wisdom defines a person who exercises moral authority in a family or a collective, something that is very important in the gypsy culture. Inspired by the “Buena Vista Social Club” Patriarcas de la Rumba is the artistic name for a group of Catalan gypsies all aged between 60 and 75 years of age trying to reclaim the Catalan Rumba.