Over the weekend of March 19 – 20 Lollapalooza Chile will enter its sixth year as one of the Andean nation’s top musical events, second in magnitude only to El Festival de Viña Del Mar. Thousands will crowd into O’Higgins Park, in Santiago, to see some of the biggest names in international music (though usually skewed towards anglo pop) and important local acts, ranging from seasoned veterans to young up-and-comers. There has been talk about the decreased amount of Latin names on this year’s bill, in particular when compared to last year’s bounty of talent that featured the likes of Ana Tijoux and Javiera y Los Imposibles headlining two of the event’s five stages. Though 2016’s line-up features local treasures like Javiera Mena, Gepe, Ases Falsos and Tunacola, you should definitely make time to see and cheer for some of the lesser known acts. To help you navigate Lollapalooza Chile and avoid missing top-notch performances, we’ve decided to highlight 4 under the radar acts deserving of your time and attention.
1
Planeta No
These indie pop-rockers from Concepción have been hard at work trying to get their name out into the world. With two albums under their belt, the Chilean trio has been touring extensively, domestically and internationally, with visits to Mexico and Costa Rica. Their most recent album, Odio, was a polished and sunny effort, with moments of moody heartfelt songwriting and refined melodies. Planeta No will be hitting the Lollapalooza stage with their sweet, dance friendly pop music, promising to be a major crowd pleaser. With Chile’s impeccable track record for indie pop, you don’t want to miss the chance to see a band clearly on the edge of blowing up.
2
Agua Turbia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQWc7HWduJw
Aguaturbia is an iconic psych-rock outfit formed in 1969 by Carlos Corales and his wife Denise. Aguaturbia have followed a path that has seen them relocate to Los Angeles and New York, establish a myriad of solo projects, and find renewed success in Europe in the mid 90s. Their presence as part of this year’s line-up follows the trend Lolla organizers kicked into high gear a few years ago by bringing local classic rock heroes like Los Jaivas and Congreso back to Chillean stages. The band is currently promoting their latest album, 2015’s Aguaturbia III, and has been teasing more new music on the horizon. If you were ever curious about what a Latin Jefferson Airplane might sound like, this is your time to answer that question by tuning in and dropping out.
3
La Guacha
Fronted by Soledad Del Río, La Guacha is one of the more traditional Latin bands on the bill, with music that celebrates Latin America’s diverse cultural roots. The band has released two albums, 2011’s Virgen and 2014’s Fácil, composed of funky modern cumbia with a foot firmly planted in tradition. The candid and flirtatious songwriting coupled with La Guacha’s party ready music will surely give way to swiveling hips and plenty of percussion led dance breaks. Make sure to wear your dancing shoes for this cumbia get-down!
4
Telebit
One of the few non-Chilean Latin acts on the Lolla line-up, Telebit is a Colombian rock band that incorporates experimental electronic sounds and pop songwriting structures. They have garnered considerable buzz in the Colombian indie scene with artsy videos, Andean influences, tour dates alongside Hello Seahorse and an opening slot for Muse in October. Collaborations with Andrea Echeverrí and Bomba Estêreo’s Julian Salazar have lead the musicians to develop a rich and exciting sound with vibes reminiscent of Porter and La Vida Boheme. They are currently promoting 2015’s Doce Vientos, a beautiful kinetic collection of songs that reflect on life’s trials and tribulations. Telebit are a festival wild card, and show you just have to see.