Raices & Rhythms - Latin America in Australia

Raíces & Rhythms: Latin America in Australia is an intimate evening of live music and conversation opening the La Fiesta 2026 weekend at The Street Theatre. Musicians from Chile, Cuba, Argentina and Australia step away from their larger festival ensembles for stripped-back performances, followed by conversations with host Frank Madrid about the music they make, the traditions that shape them, and what it means to carry those sounds into a life in Australia. The program moves through Afro-Cuban percussion, flamenco and Spanish guitar, Cuban son, Latin American folk and contemporary Latin sounds, with performances from artists including Adrian Hearn, Aloy Junco, Rodolfo "Panga" Hechavarría, Keko Virán, Aya Kitaoji, Alejandro Flórez and members of The New Monos. The evening is bookended by a special Afro-Cuban batá percussion collaboration, bringing rhythm, storytelling and cultural context together in a relaxed theatre setting.