OXFORD: Cowley Workers Social Club

Friday 12th July, 2024

8:00pm

Event information

July’s Bossaphonik event takes place on Friday 12th - a week earlier than our usual running slot. We welcome the psychedelic tropical cumbia music of “Manzanita Y Su Conjunto – La Leyenda Continúa,” led by Manzanita Jr coming all the way from Peru for the first time!

Manzanita Jr is the son of Berardo “Manzanita” Hernandez who was a legendary figure in the Peruvian music scene of the late 1960’s. For a special UK summer tour, Manzanita Jr is uniting with Scottish-based band Los Chichanos which features some of the UK’s top Latin musicians. They present the magical “chicha” music of Peru from one of the music’s ambassadors to audiences outside of Latin America for the very first time. Performing as a 6 piece band with the sound of sun-kissed electric guitar, gleeful vintage organ, Latin percussion with congas, cowbells, timbales and clave for some uplifting good-time dancefloor fun!

Manzanita was one of the founding fathers of chicha music - the Peruvian electric guitar-driven psychedelic take on Colombian cumbia music of the 60's & 70's. The genre has recently experienced a revival and has taken the global tropical music scene by storm. With the heady combination of cumbia and Cuban guaracha, Manzanta’s lightning-fast finger lines carved a niche in the musical landscape at the time. His band, known as “Manzanita y Su Conjunto” played a pivotal role in shaping the vibrant tapestry of Peruvian music. Their electrifying fusion ignited dancefloors and resonated across the nation. Manzanita Hernández himself mesmerised audiences with his self-taught guitar virtuosity.

His prodigious son, Manzanita Jr follows in his late father’s footsteps to keep the psychedelic mastery of the era alive, performing regularly across Latin America, inspiring contemporary artists and keeping the flame of Peruvian musical innovation alive. In Manzanita’s honour, the legend lives on in Manzanita y Su Conjunto - La Leyenda Continúa. With this specially formed band, Manzanita Jr will be paying tribute to his father's band with his compositions and arrangements of traditional songs which were originally recorded in the late 60's and 70's. As well as this, we’ll be treated to other classics and tropical Latin hits that today are often heard across the world. This Bossaphonik event will be the final gig of a 7-date tour which includes The Jazz Cafe in Camden and Isle of Anglesey Tonnau Tropical Garden Party.

“Manzanita’s unabashed intention is to lure audiences onto the dance floor” ★★★★ – The Times

“Savour, swing, rhythm and joy distinguish the magic guitar of Manzanita” – Rhythm Passport

“The truly electrifying sounds of cumbia and guaracha music on offer burst … with exuberance and vitality guaranteed to put you in a good mood” – Folk Radio UK

Check out two vids of the band:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=699FjgHH4FY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jklT4Sfa0E4

Following the joyful sounds of the band is a Bossaphonik club session, for this event we have Kwassa Kwassa DJs. Made up of Tom Hilton and Simon Starling – the pair have been running their superb tropical parties in Oxford for over 10 years. With their breathtaking repertoire of vintage music from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the dancefloor will be heated til 1:30am to the sounds of -

Afrobeat * Highlife * Soukous * Funk * Soul * Reggae * Ska * Salsa * Cumbia * Calypso * Hip Hop * Bomba * Soca!!!

Friday 12th July
Bossaphonik Presents Manzanita Y Su Conjunto – La Leyenda Continúa + Kwassa Kwassa DJs
Cowley Workers Social Club, Between Towns Road. OX4 3LZ (Near Templars Square Shopping Centre. Regular buses 1 and 5 from City Centre go up Cowley Road til 3am, stopping opposite the venue)
8pm–1:30am
Band starts at 9:30pm

See ya there!

Between Towns Road
Oxford
OX4 3LZ

www.cowleyworkers.co.uk/

01865 430 446