The Havana Cultura live tour will be visiting The Sage, Gateshead on Saturday 3rd July, one of only two UK dates. The tour is the latest in a series of cultural projects from Havana Cultura, celebrating fresh talent across all artistic disciplines. Powered by Roberto Fonseca and his acclaimed band, the concerts will feature Cuban star Danay (described by Gilles Peterson as ‘Cuba’s Jill Scott’), as well as Ogguere, one of the hottest and most inventive hip hop acts in Cuba.

Roberto Fonseca has shared the stage with Cuban legends such as Rubén González, Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo. For The Havana Cultura Band, he is joined by an all-star group featuring old school master reedsman Javier Zalba (Irakere), the most versatile bass-player in Cuba Omar Gonzalez, drummer Ramses Rodriguez (Chucho Valdes), Joel Hierrezuelo on congas, producer/percussionist Vince Vella and Gilles Peterson, the mastermind behind Havana Cultura Remixed, live onstage.

Revelling in his role as executive producer, Gilles Peterson comments: “You never have to listen hard to hear the music in Havana – it’s in the very lifeblood of the city itself and you can literally taste the energy and vibe. The Havana Cultura initiative encourages these artists to showcase their work and achieve the credit and recognition they deserve worldwide.”

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