EL FESTIVAL DE LA SALSA: HOUSTON’S BIGGEST SALSA PARTY OF THE YEAR!

What:  El Festival de la Salsa: Texas biggest salsa event! Special international guests: Grammy Award Winner Ramón Dario Benitez (Colombia), the soulful and glorious voice of the legendary Orquesta Mulenze’s former lead singer, Puerto Rican vocalist Pedro Brull (‘....he has that timing which places him among the great soneros -improvising salsa singers’…Tomek, UK salsa broadcaster). The Festival’s featured band, The Houston All Stars directed by the internationally known Jorge Orta ‘Cro-Cro’ (Venezuela), former member of the legendary Grupo Niche). In addition, 9 bands, 10 concerts, over 75 musicians, and food vendors, all representing over 10 countries, with an estimated 6,000+ in attendance for the event! Music tributes to salsa legends: Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Oscar D’Leon and Joe Arroyo. The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee is this year’s Honorary Chair.

Date:   June 29 – July, 2012 (Friday – Sunday) 

Location:   Jones Plaza (600 Louisiana, Houston, Texas, 77002)  

Hours:  5:00 PM– 10:00 PM

Other Activities:  The first CD release at a salsa event in Houston. In addition, after concert parties at Hard Rock Café (see site for full details) 

Who:   FLAMART (Featuring Latin American Music and ART) in collaboration with The 18th Congressional District of Texas. Founded in 2005 with the goal of presenting Latin American and Iberian art-forms, Flamárt, seeks to present the richness and diversity found in the native peoples, music and culture, of these regions through dynamic and interesting programs. Flamárt is graciously hosted by the Foundation for Modern Music (FMM) a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. 

Why:   In contrast to most festivals which focus on a specific country or element of a culture, El Festival de la Salsa’s goal is to provide a unifying event where people of all countries and cultures come together for their love of salsa – this a unique feature of the event! This initiative also helps to raise funds for Flamart’s and FMM’s Arts Education Programs that include: Instruments in Schools (initiative that provides funds for the purchase and/or repair of music instruments), Salsa y Salud (free dance classes and health and wellness lectures with the culminating event taking place at Miller Outdoor Theatre), Navidad Latina (at the Museum of Fine Arts), Introductions (a program that showcases the music of local young composers), Music for Peace (at Rothko Chapel).This free for the public education and performance series is committed to producing and supporting life enhancing arts programs that directly impact especially underserved and economically disadvantaged children, families, and adults while making arts and their benefits accessible to all. 

Artists:  Pedro Brull, Rubén Dario Benitez, The Houston All Stars Orchestra, Orchestra, Havana NRG, Tumbaká, Mary Frometa, La Orquesta Salmerum featuring Jairo Perea,  KIPP High School Jazz Ensemble,  Compadres de Ritmo, Rudy Rincón, Gerardo Araujo, Irma ‘La Paloma’, Niho, Angelucho, Valeria Denis, Kevin Castillo, and Cecil Araujo, among  the talented cast.