DOORS: 7PM SHOW: 8PM

The Meridian Brothers, a tropical five-piece founded by Colombian guitarist and composer Eblis Alvarez, tinkers with Latin Tropical styles with electronic aplomb, theatrical vocals, and unparalleled experimentation. Alvarez’s dizzying explorations, one album after another for the last two decades, come alive onstage as they return to the US for the first time since 2016. The band is touring a new album being released by the legendary NYC Salsa Dura label “Ansonia” this August – in which they reinvent themselves as a fictitious Salsa Dura band from the 1970s, Sgt. Pepper style, called EL GRUPO RENACIMIENTO. It’s a creative tribute to the 70s era NYC salsa that swept the world and finds Eblis Alvarez playing around with what it means to live in a post-truth world, where a legitimate and legendary salsa label releases a work of musical fiction – what he calls “salsa fantastica”. Catch them at The Drake for August’s Planetary Party together with DJ Bongohead (Peace & Rhythm) spinning actual 70s era salsa dura.