BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - BATUKEALO is one of the performances scheduled for the third annual Latin Festival which is scheduled to begin from October 18 to 21.
This year’s festival will be held under the theme ‘Brazilian’s Carnival’ and organizers are hoping to make the event bigger and better this year with added days and new venues.
The main event will be held at Carambola Beach Club on Sunday, October 21, at 2 p.m. and along with Batukealo will also feature Ritmo Brazil.
On Thursday, (October 18) there will be a Latin American Movie presentation at Caribbean Cinemas and on Saturday October 20 at the St. Kitts Marriott Hotel’s Plaza, there will be a Latin Flavour event featuring Latin Fusion.
Batukealo was founded in 2003 by the Puerto Rican trombonist, Aníbal de Gracia, who along with seven talented and versatile artists created a fusion of musical genres such as the Puerto Rican plena, the Brazilian batucada, the tasty Cuban troupe and modern reggaeton.
Using only percussion instruments (tambourine, bell chekere, Snare, Surdos) Batukealo has created one of the most peculiar, rhythmic and danceable rhythms of late, a tasty, hot and explosive Batuplena.
The group is currently composed by: ‘Joe’ Maysonet, Alicia Salivia, Miguel Soldevila, Mario Vega, Aldon Anibal Irizarry and Grace who participated in the film "El Cantante" with Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez in the Chilean novel by Don Love.
Some of the music played by Batukealo includes salsa, meringue, plena, bachata, Spanish rock, Americana and reggaeton.
Event Co-ordinator of the Latin Festival LLC Organization, Michelle Demming at a press conference for the event said that the previous two events were successful and they are expecting a much larger turnout at this year’s festival.
She extended gratitude to the sponsors for their kind patronage and thanked the former venue Spice Mill for making the first two events a huge success.
Demming said the Festival’s main objectives are to enhance overall exchanges between Kittitians and Latinos on the island, to emphasize the similarities between Caribbean and Latin American countries and also to promote tourism and economic activities on St. Kitts and Nevis.
