Los Van Van
Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove
19th Ave & Sloat Blvd
Jun 23, 2019
2:00 PM PDT
I Was There
Leave a Review
About this concert
Los Van Van heats up the Grove with its revolutionary “songo” sound, a uniquely Cuban concoction of rock, jazz, and son designed for one thing—dancing! Don’t miss this legendary group when they return to Stern Grove Festival. Opening the show is Banda Sin Nombre, a local five-piece street band performing global folk music.
One of the most important bands in 20th century Cuban music, the GRAMMY-winning Los Van Van celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. Founded in 1969 by Juan Formell, Los Van Van gained a reputation as one of the world's greatest dance bands, melding classic charanga with modern influences. Currently led by Juan's son, Samuel, Los Van Van has been nominated for multiple GRAMMY awards, including Best Tropical Album in 2019 for their album Legado.
Banda Sin Nombre is a five-piece street band from San Francisco's Mission District dedicated to performing folk music from around the world. Mixing rich vocal harmonies with acoustic instruments including guitar, fiddle, charango, cajon, and bass, the band's inspirations range from Peruvian chicha to Catalan rumba and Appalachian old time to cumbia.
**PLEASE NOTE: This is a FREE event and seating is first come, first served. There is open seating in a park environment and physical or digital tickets are not required for entry. Tickets reserved through Eventbrite do not guarantee entry if the concert meadow is full upon your arrival. We strongly recommend that you arrive early to ensure entry into the concert meadow.
Show More
Find a place to stay
Bandsintown Merch
Circle Hat
$25.0 USD
Live Collage Sweatshirt
$45.0 USD
Rainbow T-Shirt
$30.0 USD
Circle Beanie
$20.0 USD
What fans are saying
Easily follow all your favorite artists by syncing your music
Sync Music
Share Event
Los Van Van Biography
Los Van Van is a Cuban band led by bassist Juan Formell, and is considered to be one of Cuba's major timba acts, while Juan Formell has arguably become the most important figure in contemporary Cuban music.
In 1967, Formell became musical director of Elio Reve's charanga orchestra. He reformatted the group into Changui '68, and then founded his own group, Los Van Van, on December 4, 1969.
Musical style
Using a charanga line-up as its base, Van Van added trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Their sound was a fusion of changui and son montuno with various types of music, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk, disco, and hip hop. Juan Formell contributed countless innovations to the Cuban bass and clave, which paved the way for a radical reconceptualisation of rhythmic arrangements in Cuban music. The Van Van sound came to be known as songo (based on the songo rhythm), which laid the base for the later development of timba.
Los Van Van has consistently managed to adapt its style to the times, and remains, after 35 years, Cuba's most popular dance band. Along with pianist Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso, Juan Formell has written some of the most intriguing verses in popular dance music, including stories that run over several albums and, contrary to trends in timba, all types of social commentary. Both artists are undisputed masters of double-entendre in a musical culture where multiple meanings in lyrics are pervasive.
Awards
The band has two Grammy Awards to their credit.
Notable personnel
Los Van Van has been a school for outstanding singers and musicians. Past members with successful careers as solo artists include Pedro Calvo, Angel Bonne, Changuito, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso and others. As of 2006, Los Van Van probably have the best lineup of singers for a Cuba band composed of; Mayito Rivera, Roberto Hernandez "Roberton", Yeni Valdes and Lele Rosales.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Van_Van
Read MoreIn 1967, Formell became musical director of Elio Reve's charanga orchestra. He reformatted the group into Changui '68, and then founded his own group, Los Van Van, on December 4, 1969.
Musical style
Using a charanga line-up as its base, Van Van added trombones and vocals, and was the first Cuban group to use synthesizers and drum machines. Their sound was a fusion of changui and son montuno with various types of music, including Afro-Cuban rhythms, rock, funk, disco, and hip hop. Juan Formell contributed countless innovations to the Cuban bass and clave, which paved the way for a radical reconceptualisation of rhythmic arrangements in Cuban music. The Van Van sound came to be known as songo (based on the songo rhythm), which laid the base for the later development of timba.
Los Van Van has consistently managed to adapt its style to the times, and remains, after 35 years, Cuba's most popular dance band. Along with pianist Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso, Juan Formell has written some of the most intriguing verses in popular dance music, including stories that run over several albums and, contrary to trends in timba, all types of social commentary. Both artists are undisputed masters of double-entendre in a musical culture where multiple meanings in lyrics are pervasive.
Awards
The band has two Grammy Awards to their credit.
Notable personnel
Los Van Van has been a school for outstanding singers and musicians. Past members with successful careers as solo artists include Pedro Calvo, Angel Bonne, Changuito, Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso and others. As of 2006, Los Van Van probably have the best lineup of singers for a Cuba band composed of; Mayito Rivera, Roberto Hernandez "Roberton", Yeni Valdes and Lele Rosales.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Van_Van
Latin
Salsa
Follow artist