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Afro-Cuban All Stars

,Barbican Hall
Afro-Cuban All Stars playing music all dressed in white suits

One of the bands that introduced Afro-Cuban music to the world bring together the full spectrum of the Latin dance sound – and shape its future.

Led by Juan de Marcos González, the Afro-Cuban All Stars features mainstays of the Havana music scene, alongside a younger generation. In a rare London appearance, they perform songs old and new, as music from the golden era of Cuban music is revived and refreshed with the incorporation of contemporary sounds and rhythms.

Originating in the mid-1990s, the Afro-Cuban All Stars were founded by González to celebrate the heritage of pre-revolutionary Cuban music. With the support of UK label World Circuit Records and roots guitarist Ry Cooder, they headed to the studio to record a trio of albums – A Toda Cuba le Gusta, Buena Vista Social Club and Introducing...Rubén González. The records, and the accompanying documentary film by Wim Wenders also entitled Buena Vista Social Club were instrumental in popularising Cuban music worldwide.

Tagged with: Contemporary music World Music

This performance will begin at 8:30pm and is expected to finish at around 10pm. There will be no interval.

  • Juan de Marcos   tres, guitar, vocals, bandleader
  • Gliceria   Afro-Cuban percussion
  • Glicy   keyboards, vibraphone, backing vocals
  • Laury   clarinets, backing vocals
  • Fraga   trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Yoanny   trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Haile   trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Marquitos   piano
  • Cofiño   bass
  • Asley   bongo, cowbell
  • Asley   conga set
  • Caleb   timbales, backing vocals
  • Emilito   vocals

Discover

album cover of A Toda Cuba Le Gusta By Afro-Cuban All Stars

Listen: A Toda Cuba Le Gusta By Afro-Cuban All Stars

Listen to Afro-Cuban All Stars' 'A Toda Cuba le Gusta', the first studio album produced by Cuban bandleader and musician Juan de Marcos González and Nick Gold, and released on April 9, 1997 on World Circuit Records. 

a group of men playing cuban music somewhere in cuba

Listen: Cuban Music on Spotify

Follow our regularly updated Cuban Music playlist for a sample of the music you'll hear across our programme. 

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Barbican Hall

Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
​​​​​​​The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.