For more than fifteen years Glasto Latino has been bringing to the Festival the spice, passion, colour and excitement of Latin music and dance. Our famous late-night parties begin with world-class bands after the main stages finish, and carry on into the small hours; in the daytime at our equally famous classes you can learn salsa, tango and reggaeton with top national teachers.
Also make sure not to miss the daily Cuban carnivals around the West Holts field, and new for this year, before the bands begin, come and partner up with one of our Glasto Latino dancers to try out your moves in social dancing with a DJ and top Latin tunes.
Dockside Latin Orchestra – Wednesday and Thursday
On the Wednesday and Thursday evenings, when there isn’t so much happening elsewhere on site, we have a live 17-piece Latin orchestra for your pleasure. A special project featuring some of Bristol’s top musicians, with a 9-piece brass section, percussion and three singers, the Dockside Latin Orchestra recreates the golden age of Latin big bands, playing classic tunes made famous by the likes of Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, and demonstrating why people have never stopped dancing to this music. [When they played for us in 2019, Michael Eavis got up on stage and danced with our chorus girls for the last number!] Expect a sizzling, hip-shaking night!
Mercadonegro – Friday
Mercadonegro are Europe’s finest salsa band. These guys really are ace musicians – expatriate maestros from South America and the Caribbean, their tracks are DJ favourites the world over, and they are the band of choice not just for international dance events and concerts, but for the biggest Latin names on European tours – they have backed the legendary Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Oscar d’Leon and many, many others. A totally class act.
Telmary Y Habanasana – Saturday
Telmary is the Queen of Cuban Hip Hop, performing with her band HabanaSana. Described as “the most danceable hip-hop on the planet”, Telmary’s music is a mix of rap, funk, jazz and soul, but all underscored by traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms, along with the African gods that form a backdrop to Cuban daily life, and to Telmary’s performances. From one of the pioneers of hip-hop in Cuba, she has become a leading figure in Cuban music, and has won many accolades, including the prestigious Cubadisco award five times! Expect to be blown away!
Mayito Rivera and the Sons of Cuba – Sunday
Mayito Rivera – “The Poet of the Rumba” – is on the absolute top level of singers worldwide, a giant of Cuban music, renowned for the power and atmosphere that he brings with him everywhere he goes, moving audiences as well as keeping them moving. For fifteen years he was front man with Los Van Van, uncontested as Cuba’s top band, winning countless awards, as well as being Grammy-nominated for his own project “Negrito Bailador”. His guest appearances with other groups are legendary – “creating the mood, among the bandmembers and audience, that history is taking place before their eyes.” (timba.com). At the same time, he has featured on nearly every all-star compilation produced in Cuba in the last decade. Glastonbury will be the only UK appearance on his tour with his personal project “The Sons of Cuba”, an 8-piece band with some the island’s hottest young talent. Expect a night to burn the dance floor!
The daily dance class programme – one-hour classes, completely suitable for total beginners – runs from 1 till 7 (6 on Weds & Thurs): the team this year includes Moe Flex, one of the UK’s best-known teachers, constantly in demand for events all over the world; our very own resident party animal, “La Tempesta” Nigel May – also inviting you to get down and dirty with reggaetón; Eglis “Pilo” Cerguero from Havana, Cuba, and his partner Ilaria, who have been getting Bristol’s feet shifting for a decade, and for tango, the real deal can only come from Buenos Aires: Eduardo Bozzo brings his own hip flavour to the sultry Argentinian dance.
Plus! Carnival processions! We bring Cuba’s carnival to Glastonbury, partying around the field with live music and costumed dancers: Weds and Thurs evenings, Fri-Sun midday – see boards for exact timings.
There’s nothing like it anywhere in the UK, let alone on the Festival site: come and pay us a visit – you may want to stay all weekend!
For a taste of what Glasto Latino is about, check out our 2022 recap video.