Join us in the courtyard of The Cinematheque from Friday to Sunday (both festival weekends) for a set of live music by talented local musicians… LINE UP COMING SOON
Tamboré
THUR, SEPT, 4th
Tamboré is a Vancouver-based Latin fusion band bringing together the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean, the tropical sounds of Latin America, and the unmistakable groove of Funk.
Inspired by the musical movement that emerged from Venezuela in the 1970s, Tamboré blends salsa, cumbia, tropical rhythms, funk, and Latin grooves into a fresh and energetic sound.
Made up of experienced musicians from Vancouver’s diverse music scene, Tamboré delivers powerful vocals, percussion, bass, and keys, creating a high-energy live experience that gets audiences moving.
More than a Latin band, Tamboré is a celebration of rhythm, culture, and connection—bringing the roots of Latin music together with a modern West Coast Sound.
Latin roots. Caribbean soul. Vancouver groove. This is Tamboré.
Paula Pazos
FRI, SEPT, 5th
Paula Pazos is a Vancouver-based singer and songwriter from Buenos Aires, Argentina. With over 10 years of experience, she blends music, storytelling, and technology to create immersive experiences exploring topics such as friendship, relationships, and imposter syndrome. A member of the Latin Recording Academy, Paula has presented her work in Buenos Aires, Madrid, Barcelona, and Vancouver, and collaborated with artists from Spain, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Argentina. Her creative work extends beyond music: she developed a video game for her song “Modo Avión” and created a theatrical adaptation of her latest album, “It’s the First Time I’m Saying That Out Loud.”
Linaldo Sans Trio
SAT, SEPT, 6th
Bassist, composer and producer from Brazil, Linaldo Sans has been in the music scene for over twenty years, and since 2019 is based in Vancouver. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with specialization in electric bass guitar, and also arrangement and composition extension courses.
In Brazil, he had an opportunity to study and work with renowned musicians and artists such as Alberto Luccas, Victor Alcantara, Julio Cesar Figueiredo, and Bob Wyatt. In 2018 was selected to intensive composition classes with Celso Mojola after his arrangements and compositions were analysed by the internationally noted composer.
Amid recordings and shows across Canada, he also had performed at TD Canada Jazz Festival, Tofi no Jazz Festival, Tallinn Music Week, CBC Road to the Junos beyond many other festivals. He has collaborations with several touring artists across Canada and America, and with local artists such as Sadé Awele, Coco Jafro, Lussilia, Myles Bigelow, and Serengeti.
Owner of an authentic versatility and approach, he has brought in his performances the flavour of Brazilian music with a mix of jazz, soul and funk, showing a few of his musical influences.
Piñata Workshop
SUN, SEPT, 7th
Come learn how to build your own piñata, and support our Workshop Lead Diana in the creation of VLAFF’s 24th Anniversary Piñata, which will be for our Closing Night Party!
Led by Diana Chevalier
Salseo Van Salsa Dancing Class
SUN, SEPT, 7th
Salseo is a queer Latinx-led collective born in February 2024 due to the absence of queer-centered spaces in Vancouver to learn and practice Afro-Latinx social dancing. Inspired by the salsa and cumbia communities in Mexico, and the open-to-all spirit of cumbia street dancing, Salseo was created.
They aim to build connection and joy through Afro-Latinx dance and community. They offer welcoming, culturally-rooted, economically-accessible spaces where everyone can dance freely, without judgment or financial barriers.
Brendocha
MON, SEPT, 8th
Brendocha is a Peruvian-born DJ/event organizer, based in Vancouver. They are a co-founder of Club Bebé, a Queer Latinx collective curating events that highlight queer Latinx talent in Vancouver’s night life.
Brendocha brings fast-paced and energetic sets that traverse through Latin bass, baile funk, merengue, techno- captivating audiences with her cutting- edge style. She has played in Toronto, Edmonton, Montreal, Lima, Seattle, as well as Basscoast Musical Festival and Boiler Room in 2024. She has shared stages with artists such as BCLIP, Toccororo, Sukubratz, Rosa Pistola, Ms Nina, DJ G2G, Isa Gt.
Colectivo Sur
TUE, SEPT, 9th
Colectivo SUR is an emerging six-member musical collective that reinterprets Latin American folklore and complements it with original music responding to the diverse cultural identities of its Members.
Drawing from styles ranging from cumbia to Andean music, the group creates a contemporary sound through the use of traditional instruments such as the Venezuelan cuatro, charango, jaranas, and quena.
Influenced by the Nueva Canción movement, Collective SUR’s work is guided by social awareness, collective storytelling, and cultural exchange, opening a space to honor Latin American music characters and movements while engaging with present-day Latin American realities.
Los Grandes Norteño Band
WED, SEPT, 10th
Los Grandes is a Regional Mexican music group composed of Mexican musicians with a deep passion for music and for keeping their roots alive.
The group features drums, accordion, bass, and guitar, creating a sound full of power, emotion, and Mexican flavor. Their repertoire aims to connect with audiences through music that represents their culture, their stories, and traditions.
With their distinctive style and onstage energy, Los Grandes strive to bring their music to every performance and continue leaving a lasting mark on the hearts of their audience.
The Black Jesus
THUR, SEPT, 11th
Returning for the second year in a row all the way from Mexico! Mauricio Astorga, aka “The Black Jesus,” is a DJ and electronic music producer with over 15 years of experience curating sets in both digital and vinyl formats. He has played at clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, and music and film festivals. Based in San José del Cabo, he currently focuses on spinning vinyl.
Wasakaka
FRI, SEPT, 12th
Formed in 2016, Wasakaka All-Stars, the dynamic Latin Music ensemble from Vancouver, is dedicated to showcasing authentic rhythms and upholding cultural heritage. Having enthralled audiences at premier festivals like Richmond World Fest and Carnaval del Sol, we’ve also twice shared stages with Salsa sensation Maelo Ruiz, most recently on June 2nd, 2023.
Diana Mulata
SAT, SEPT, 13th
Diana Mulata is a vinyl collector and selector from Cali, specializing in salsa, cumbia, and boogaloo. Her selections explore Afro-Caribbean heritage and Latin sounds across borders, creating dance floors that hold memory, joy, and resistance. Based in Canada, she brings the pulse of the South to every groove.
Collective SUR
SUN, SEPT, 14th
Collective SUR is an ever-evolving and dynamic group that embraces the richness and diversity of Latin American musical traditions. Rooted in collaboration and cultural exchange, the collective is constantly reimagining itself through a rotating lineup of artists—each performance shaped by the unique voices and backgrounds of its current members.
No two performances are the same. With each iteration, Collective SUR brings a fresh perspective to Latin American music, blending traditional sounds with contemporary approaches and cross-cultural influences. Together, they create a vibrant, borderless musical experience—an ever-changing soundscape that celebrates the collective spirit of Latin America.”
2025
1:18:42
45:45
52:27
35:41
32:10
54:08
2024
49:50
37:29
23:31
