Oh, to be in Nueva York. You get the pick of the Latin litter when it comes to free summer concerts. You wouldn’t get this much Latino music action if you lived in, say, Arkansas! So give gracias to the city that feeds you. We have by compiling the 10 best concerts July (and a BONUS!) has to offer, from rock to plena to electronica. We want to make sure you’re making the most out of your city experience. We foresee many a park excursions this summer, so hit up these shows and fall in love with NYC all over again. If you don’t combust from heat that is.
For a summer-long guide, download our Official 2010 NYC Latin Summer Events Guide.
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SUN, JULY 4
River to River Festival: La Cumbiamba eNeYé
Celebra el 4 de Julio your way with some serious cumbia, courtesy of Colombia’s La Cumbiamba eNeYé. Lay on Battery Park’s lawn and exercise your right to people watch while dancing along the day to the group’s tambor/flauta/maraca mezcla.
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WED, JULY 7
Nortec Collective Presents Bostich + Fussible, El Guincho, Anita Tijoux
Central Park managed to jam their 2010 LAMC SummerStage stage with three drastically different acts. And we dig it. Nortec Collective (pictured) brings out one of its meta-projects Bostich + Fussible, poster child for cultural repurposing. With their mix of Norteño ranchera and indie electronica, they’re a great match to Spain’s mix maker, El Guincho, a tropicalized Animal Collective. Rounding it off is leading lady MC Anita Tijoux, whose U.S. debut 1977 is the perfect city summer soundtrack.
Delorean at Music on the Oval
Barceloneros Delorean have spread themselves to all corners of the world with their electro-shoegaze vibe. That doesn’t mean they’re above playing a FREE show. Head to Stuy Town’s free summer music series, Music on the Oval, for a complimentary Delorean set, following an opening DJ set by local spacey spinner Brennan Green.
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THURS, JULY 8
LAMC: King Changó & Pacha Massive
A good roof makes for a good venue. Thankfully we have El Museo del Barrio’s Rufo. This set includes New York via Venezuela ska-pop band King Changó (featured on David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label) and chill-wave local duo Pacha Massive (left). Bring a date for some intimate skyline action.
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FRI, JULY 9
Celebrate Brooklyn! & LAMC Present Ozomatli, Fidel Nadal, Toy Selectah
Feel-good flock Ozomatli (pictured) will headline Celebrate Brooklyn! for its 2010 LAMC stage, channeling their urban big-band, So-Cal sound, complete with rapping, brass instruments, cumbia, and guitar riffs. Opening are chill-fest reggae Argentinean Fidel Nadal and our favorite Morrissey masher: Toy Selectah.
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SAT, JULY 10
Maldita Vecindad & The Pinker Tones
Sax-infused Latin mainstay Maldita Vecindad have been around for a while, ska-ing it up all over the world with their high-octane shows. Joining them is the Barcelona duo that spews quirk-electro pop from every angle: The Pinker Tones (pictured). This is sure to be a sound overload in the park.
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FRI, JULY 23
Celebrate Brooklyn! Presents Bomba Estéreo, La Secta All Star, Rita Indiana
You will sweat. Colombian cumbieros Bomba Estéreo (left) will serve up their usual “Fuego” to the Prospect Park crowd, a set that always gets rave reviews wherever the band goes. Puerto Rico’s La Secta All Star are rock en español perennials and Rita Indiana has crafted her own brand of merengue: amplified and electronic.
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WED, JULY 28
River to River Festival: Plena Libre
The twelve-piece Puerto Rican collective is all about their roots. They incorporate all Boricua staples, from dance to drums, in one high-energy set. Even if you don’t dance, take it as an interactive Caribbean history lesson.
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SAT, JULY 31
Natalia Lafourcade, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jovanotti
Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade (right) has been pedaling her latest album Hu Hu Hu to the masses and they’ve agreed: she’s good. Watch her perform at Central Park on the same bill as Latin disco-pop group Los Amigos Invisibles and Italian rapper Jovanotti.
Heineken Inspire Present Tito El Bambino, Mexican Institute of Sound, Nacotheque, D’Marquesina
Providing probably the most ridiculously fun and generous summer concert series is perhaps Heineken Inspire. They’ve assembled an awesome cast of DJs (Camilo Lara project Mexican Institute of Sound, Nacotheque, and D’Marquesina) to make you dance well into the night, partnering up with leading reggaetonero Tito El Bambino for its NYC stop (the show tours Miami, Chicago, and LA). Best part: it’s all complimentary! Just “Like” Heineken’s Facebook page and you’ll get an exclusive invite. Food, beer, AND music covered.
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FRI, JULY 24 – BONUS EVENT!
Andres Levin’s Field of Dreams at Celebrate Brooklyn! featuring Forro in the Dark, Yerba Buena, and more
Andres Levin, music scene maven who has worked with David Byrne, Aterciopelados, Tina Turner, Los Amigos Invisibles, and Caetono Veloso (and that’s just a short list of credentials) has built what Celebrate Brooklyn! calls “a DIY world’s fair of music and art.” Grammy-winning producer Levin and The Bruce High Quality Foundation have organized Field of Dreams (Un Mundo Nuevo) an all-day event that is sure to satisfy any type of music lover. Musical and theatrical guests include: Cucu Diamantes, Luis Guzman, Pablo Picasso, M1 from Dead Prez, Los Hanky Panky vs. Yerba Buena, Les Nubians, Raven O, Forro In The Dark, John Medeski, and many more to be confirmed. This should be the mother of all concerts.
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For a summer-long guide, download our Official 2010 NYC Latin Summer Events Guide.