The Andino Suns, a group that has been captivating audiences thought Canada with fiery instrumentation and inspirational live performances, will be performing in Canora on Thursday at the Canora Composite School.
The concert is the fourth in the 2016-17 Stars for Saskatchewan series being brought to Canora by the Canora Arts Council.
Hailing from Regina by was of Santiago, Chile, the group fuses traditional Andean Mountain instrumentation with modern Latin grooves and rhythms, said information from the Arts Council.
The band released its debut self-titled album in 2013 and has since made appearances at high-profile music festivals across Canada.
In 2015, the band’s sophomore album, It’s Time to Rise was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for World Recording of the Year.
Exuberant, rousing, political and spiritual, Andino Suns have forged a sound that is sure to ignite festival audiences and dance floors alike, it said.
It wasn’t easy for Andino Suns to get to where they are today, says information on the band’s webiste. The recording of their third full length LP, Madera, was difficult and ambitious and full of decisions both back-breaking and emotional, yet ultimately essential in the evolution of the band.
It’s a collaborative, homegrown record in which they’ve incorporated some of the most talented, hardworking musicians Saskatchewan has to offer, it said. The Dead South, Megan Nash, Keiffer McLean, Scott Richmond and members of the Regina Symphony Orchestra all make appearances on it.
The band also incorporated some international flair by bringing in world renowned percussionist based out of Montréal, Daniel Emden, as a co-producer. Emden, who has performed with the prestigious Berklee World String Orchestra out of Boston, sharpened his skills working with some of the best artists South America has to offer.
Madera combines the sizzling sounds of South American sun with the earthiness of prairie solitude. It’s laced with elements of traditional Andean music; (those with a keen ear for sound will notice charango, quena and toyos) yet it also contains the charm and sensibilities of art, which, although far from its origins, feels more than comfortable in its surroundings.
The music of Andino Suns may have been forged in the fire of Chilean revolt –which it undoubtedly is- but it is also rooted heavily in the fabric of the vast Canadian prairies, it said.
Andres Davalos, as well as both guitar players Andres Palma and recent addition, Cristian Moya (formerly of Descalso), are the sons of political exiles who found security in the Canadian prairies. They were raised in households that cherished its Chilean heritage. They learned the language and the history; they read the books, watched the shows and, most importantly, they listened to the music.
The band hasn’t slowed down since its inception in 2009. Its raucous and memorable live performances have made securing festival gigs pretty easy; and the band’s popularity and skill continue to grow steadily.
Performances across Canada have included JunoFest, SaskTel Jazz Fest, the Regina Folk Festival and Ness Creek in Saskatchewan; Festival du Bout du Monde, and Festival des Traditions du Monde in Quebec; and Cold Snap Festival in British Columbia. The band also represented Saskatchewan at Mundial Montreal, Folk Alliance International in Kansas, and the 2015 Western Canadian Music Industry Awards in Victoria.
