Preview

Cambria Arts' final presentation for 2000 should put everyone in the mood for a festive Christmas. With the weather being the way it has over the past months, a blast of something hot is just what we all need, and the return of Merengada will fit the bill perfectly. The gig, which takes place at the Talbot Hotel, Tregaron on Friday 8th December at 9.00pm is the final gig funded by the ACW Lottery Award under the Millennium Festival Wales. A sizzling 10-piece Latin band playing hi-energy Salsa and Merengu¾ dance music originating from Latin America: Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Dominican Republic. With 2 singers, full percussion section and 3 fiery brass, this is the real thing!Famous for their Top 10 Latin chart hit single ‘NO WOMAN NO CRY’ - Salsa style - they have become the UK¹s favourite Latin dance band.

Led by Nina Jaffa on sax and vocals, Merengada has been playing and touring for nearly 5 years, and is made up of a mix of UK and Latino musicians, including Guillermo Monroy (Mexico) and Biembo Moreno (Dominican Republic) on vocals. Merengada differ from the average UK Latin band in that they write and play their own authentic Salsa and Merengue , in modern and hard-hitting style, and have incorporated some English or "Spanglish" into the lyrics to help bridge the gap between the Latino world and their local audiences.

Their long-awaited first CD album ‘Arrancando’ is just out on Deep South West records, and is currently being toured around the country. Their music has been used on BBC TV's Alexei Sayle show, as well as a Channel 4 film, Carlton and SKY, and is regularly played on Radio - throughout the world! They have become frequent participators in the huge-scale European festivals to 20,000 or more spectators (Rome, Turin, Milan, Cairo, Knokke Heist and Belgium)- on the bill with artists such as Celia Cruz, Jose Alberto and Orlando Poleo.

Merengada have become the UK's most widely booked and touring band because they have captured the essence of the big salsa bands form Latin America - not just a musical performance, but a whole lively visual show, with choreography, much humour and audience participation. This is truly the only band performing authentic Merengu¾ with a real show outside of the Americas.

"If you can sit still while their beats blast past, you¹d better consult your doctor - you must be dead!" - Dance 4 U Magazine.

Review