It’s the week we’ve been waiting for here in New York– the Latin Alternative Music Conference is set to take over the city for its quinceañera edition, with some of the most innovative acts in Latin indie ready to be on their hustle for the week, just for you, adoring music fans. With many of these groups making appearances at both official and unofficial parties, there’s no shortage of options for you to bask in the talent.
To avoid you feeling inundated with options, here’s a shortlist of our picks for must-see artists we recommend catching while they’re in town for just a short while.
Juana Molina [ARG]
Critically-acclaimed darling of the indie folk scene Juana Molina returns to New York to take the Central Park SummerStage main stage with her mischievous, playful catalog of experimental electronica. For Molina, a former star of the popular sketch comedy show “Juana y Sus Hermanas” and an established musician with six albums under her belt, her appearance at this year’s LAMC holds the potential to be a huge crossover opportunity for her to reach a much wider scope of Latino listeners. For a lower-key presentation, don’t miss her Friday night at The Green Space with la Mecánica Popular, hosted by Latino USA and Soundcheck.
Gigs
Friday, July 11th
An Evening with Juana Molina & La Mecanica Popular
7 PM at The Green Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York. $20, 18+.
Saturday, July 12th
LAMC/Central Park SummerStage Show
8 PM at Rumsey Playfield – Entrance at 72nd & 5th Avenue. Free, all ages.
AJ Dávila y Terror Amor [P.R.]
AJ Dávila comes to New York this week to strut the unhinged sound he’s established for himself out of Puerto Rico’s vibrant punk and garage scene. His solo debut Terror Amor, released earlier this year on Nacional Records after a break from his former band Davila 666, boasts gritty sounds pitched up, down, and all around through collaborations with indie heavy hitters like the Black Lips’ Cole Alexander, Selma Oxor, and Alex Anwandter.
Gigs
Thursday, July 10th
Supercrush Studio and NRMAL present: Sólo Dame Indie Pop!
8 PM at Radio Bushwick, 22 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn. $8, 21+.
Friday, July 11th
LAMC Acoustic Showcase
6 PM at SOB’s, 204 Varick Street, New York
Danay Suárez [CUB]
Dynamic Cuban hip hop rhymer/songstress Danay Suárez came up through the Cuban rap movement as a self-taught vocalist, building recognition over the years for her conscious lyrics, compelling flow, and impeccable delivery. We’re watching closely to see what’s next, as Suárez has already released her acclaimed third independent album Polvo de la Humedad, successfully organized a tour across Europe, and asserted herself as a force for a non-traditional Cuban take on soul, gospel, R&B, and more.
Gigs
Wednesday, July 9th
LAMC Indie Showcase
8:30 PM at The Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston Street.
Friday, July 11th
LAMC Acoustic Showcase
6 PM at SOB’s, 204 Varick Street, New York.
Los Macuanos [MEX]
Futuristic trio Los Macuanos are at the head of the pack of a Tijuana-grown wave of electronic music called ruidosón– “ruido,” meaning noise, and “son” connoting roots-oriented styles of music. Their razor sharp political critiques are filtered through layers of apocalyptic 3ball loops, minimal techno, and reinterpretations of street-level audio samples to tread a fine line between instantly recognizable elements and the avant-garde.
Gigs
Friday, July 11th
LAMC Showcase
8 PM at The Gramery Theatre, 127 East 23rd Street.
Él mató a un policía motorizado [ARG]
Based out of La Plata district of Buenos Aires, Él Mató a Un Policía Motorizado brings dreamy, lo-fi alt-indie sounds reminiscent of 80s/90s noise rock glory days that still manages to distinguish them as a step outside of the rock nacional box. The band delivers a distortion-heavy live performance that’s carried them across their self-dubbed “El Nuevo Magnetismo” tour, which has already routed them across Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, and more. The tireless group will be making the most out of their first trip to New York with appearances at LAMC official showcases at The Mercury Lounge and SOB’s, as well as Festival NRMAL / Supercrush Studio’s Brooklyn-based ¡Sólo Dame Indie Pop! series.
Gigs
Wednesday, July 9th
LAMC Indie Showcase
8:30 PM at The Mercury Lounge, 217 E. Houston Street.
Friday, July 11th
LAMC Acoustic Showcase
6 PM at SOB’s, 204 Varick Street, New York. Open to LAMC registrants with a limited
Friday, July 11th
Supercrush Studio and NRMAL present: Sólo Dame Indie Pop!
8 PM at Radio Bushwick, 22 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn. $8, 21+.