Date(s): 7th March 2009

Time: 20:30

Venue: Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH

Cuba's biggest, funkiest dance orquesta returns to London after 2 years. The legendary 20 piece Los Van Van (the Go Go’s) will be celebrating 40 years of dance floor mayhem at the Roundhouse. Their trademark songo rhythm combines salsa, funk, charanga and reggae with incendiary afro-cuban percussion and this hottest of nights also features top Cuban dance DJs Dr. Jim + Javier La Rosa. Genuine Cuban legends in action, unassailable after 4 decades - and totally unmissable.

The last time that Los Van Van graced a London stage was 2 years ago for one of the very last live shows at the much-loved, and now much-lamented, Hammersmith Palais. The place was jammed and the atmosphere joyous. They rocked the place to its foundations no doubt making the wrecking ball’s job a good deal easier than it would otherwise have been.

“a show that combined musical virtuosity with sweaty, all-stops-out entertainment.” Evening Standard

However the Roundhouse is now numero uno following on from awesome shows featuring the likes of Oscar D’Leon and the previous year’s definitive Willie Colon show - Salsa Central if you will.

Van Van will be supported and followed by sets from London’s finest Cuban music DJs – Javier La Rosa and Dr. Jim playing for the dancers and, as at the Palais, this Los Van Van show doubles as the launch party of the embarrassment of riches that is London’s annual La Linea Festival.

"The undisputed king of Cuban dance orchestras and one of the most influential forces ever in Afro-Cuban music"
Los Angeles Times

Los Van Van (The Go Go’s) - the 20-piece orchestra turned Cuban music institution was formed by arranger/bassist Juan Formell and pianist Cesar Pedroso when they left another long-standing Cuban outfit, Orquesta Revé. Van Van are best known for the irresistible dance groove they created called 'songo' - a solid and invigorating fusion of rich Caribbean rhythms, Afro-Cuban drumming plus salsa ingrained with traces of funk and reggae. This new sound became the rage of Havana and one of the most influential Cuban rhythms since the cha-cha-cha and they will be celebrating their fortieth anniversary at the Roundhouse. Los Van Van never fail to deliver and have a 40 year track record and correspondingly extensive repertoire to call on.

Featuring a fearsome collection of virtuoso musicians, their live shows are all about the relationship between the band and the dance-floor, with call-and-response Afro-Cuban conga, sharp horns and charanga violin riffs, vocal improvisations drifting in and out between this solid groove. A dance groove that has made generations of people dance to their unmistakable rythms.

"The best dance band in Cuba!" New York Times

Cuba is a powerhouse in the development of popular music, and Los Van Van, the world's premier Latin dance band, continues to rock the Cuban soul and ram dance-floors
worldwide.

How Much?: 22

Telephone: 0844 482 8008

Website: Roundhouse Bookings