AFRO LATINX FESTIVAL III

Venue :
4705 3rd st, San Francisco, CA

The Afro Latinx Concert Series Festival is a vibrant celebration of Afro-Latinx culture and music, set to take place at the historic Ruth Williams Opera House. Scheduled during Latino Heritage Month, from September 21st to October 12th, this festival aims to highlight the rich artistic traditions and contributions of Afro-Latinx communities. Through live performances by esteemed artists such as Chuchito Valdés, La Dame Blanche, Oscar Ly and Rumbalu, and DJ Leydis, hosted by Gina Madrid. The festival will showcase the diversity and dynamism of Afro-Latinx music while fostering cultural exchange and community engagement.

• SEP 21 ( 6 pm ) - La Dame Blanche, Gina Madrid, Yrak Saenz, DJ Leydis
• OCT 5 ( 6 pm )- Oskar Ly y Rumbalu, Obrayan y Los Calderon, DJ Leydis
• OCT 12 ( 5 pm )- Chuchito Valdes, Batuki, DJ Leydis

ALL TICKETS ARE SOLD PER INDIVIDUAL DATES

Tier 1 - Limited Early-Bird Donation based - $ pay what you want

Tier 2 - $18 ( General Admission + Drink / Cocktail - Beer - Soda)

Tier 3 - $25 ( General Admission + a plate of Caribbean Food)

Tier 4 - $75 ( General Admission - Signed Poster, T-shirt & pic )

All Ages I ( highly recommended to get tickets in advance)

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intertwines her native Afro-Cuban influences with hip-hop, trap, reggae, dancehall, and reggaeton beats. The musical project of the singer and flutist Yaite Ramos Rodríguez recognizes her on stage as a revelation of rap in Spanish, with an energetic performance that mixes the Latin and the urban, the fierce and the sensual. Born in a family of musicians, Yaite was raised by sons, rumbas and boleros and began to explore, from the classical flute, the creation of her own musical language. Life took her to perform on stages around the world, collaborating for the first time with Latin jazz, reggae, and cumbia artists. These experiences converged in the appearance of La Dame Blanche. From port to port, this mystical character embarks on a ritual that rescues silenced stories from everyday life, and intertwines them with powerful beats that spontaneously dialogue with the feminine company of the flute. Since “Pirata”, her first album release, La Dame Blanche navigates with ease the explosive lyrics of Cuban urban hip hop. La Dame Blanche has five albums to her credit as well as numerous collaborations with artists from around the world. For more than a decade, their songs have sought to humbly enter homes as an irreverent shout that empowers and soothes with joy the true things in life

Jesus "Chuchito" Valdés - (Pianist, arranger, composer, bandleader) Born in Havana Cuba, Chuchito Valdes comes from one of the most distinguished musical families in Cuba. He has recorded and performed piano with the world renown Cuban band, Irakere, which he led for 2 years. He has performed at festivals, clubs and concerts throughout the world: from Cuba and the Caribbean, across the United States and South America, and throughout Europe. Some of his worldwide appearances have included Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London and Green Dolphin Street in Chicago, The Jazz Festivals of Havana, Cancun and Merida, as well as a recent festival performance in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Music Festival. His ensemble was featured in December of 2000, at the 19th International Havana Jazz Festival, as well as at the Cancun International Jazz Festival in May of 2001 & 2002. The band completed a successful U.S Tour last year performing concerts from Chicago to San Francisco.

On Nov. 9th 2001 his band performed at Orchestra Hall In Detroit. In 2002 he was featured with his band at the Chicago Jazz Festival, The Detroit Jazz Festival, AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival, and the Brownsville Latin-Jazz Festival in Texas. In his youth he studied with many Cuban masters, such as the great Cuban pianist, Chucho Valdes (who also happens to be his father). Chuchito is recognized as a master at Cuban music including Mambo, Danzon, and Cuban Timba and Guaguanco. He has also extensively studied classical music including harmony and composition. When he is not travelling around the world performing, Chuchito lives in Cancun, Mexico where he leads his Afro-Cuban based Latin-Jazz ensemble. His original compositions and arrangements draw on classical harmonic and structural techniques. In his performances, Chuchito’s music draws on many styles including Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz, Bebop, Danzon, Cha-Cha- Cha, Son Montuno and much more.

Óskar Ly is a multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, bandleader, and music producer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Originally from Barranquilla, Colombia, his music journey began when he was 9, the piano being his first instrument.

A self-taught artist, he also plays guitar, bass, melodica, accordion, and Latin percussion instruments. At a very early age, he becomes part of diverse Colombian bands performing popular genres, including rock, salsa, and merengue. At 15 he discovers jazz. His fascination for this genre becomes evident in many of his arrangements and compositions, being Chucho Valdés, Michel Camilo, Richie Ray, Darío Eskenazi, Paquito D' Rivera, and Barry Harris, some of his major influences.

At the age of 21, Óskar moved to the United States, where he began to work with Latin music superstars Nino Segarra, Chuchito Valdés, Nelson Rangell, Sal Cuevas (bassist of Fania All Stars), Karl Perazzo (Santana’s drummer), Richie Flores (Eddie Palmieri’s conguero), Dante Vargas (Marc Anthony’s trumpeter), Elías Tona (Al Di Meola's bassist), the Grammy award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra, among other renowned artists. Many of them have participated in his musical productions which are available today on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, and all other music distribution channels, being listened in more than 140 countries worldwide.

​Currently, he is the director of , a world-class Latin music orchestra featuring the most talented musicians and singers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about Rumbalú .

Gina Madrid is a Mexican, Oakland-based rapper, community organizer, activist, and core member of the renowned, Audiopharmacy.
With her distinctive cross-cultural background, multilingual abilities, and politically-charged lyrics, she has become a vibrant force in the Bay Area music scene captivating audiences with her passionate performances.
Gina has had the privilege of sharing the stage with esteemed artists such as KRS-One, Rakim, Ana Tijoux, Ozomatli, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Immortal Technique; and music collaborations with DJ Shadow, Gift of Gab, Michael Marshall & Fantastic Negrito. Through her powerful lyrics and actions, she strives to ignite positive change and empower those around her.

Dj Leydis, Born and raised in Cuba, DJ Leydis combines contemporary hits with a distinctive fusion of Latin flavors, classic R&B, Hip Hop, Afro Beats, Afro Cubano, Roots Reggae and Cuban Music (Timba Cubana). She has been involved in the Cuban hip-hop movement since its beginnings, as well as about the essence of Cuban Music since her arrival in the United States in 2006. DJ Leydis has been co-organizing and co-founding the most respected and well-attended community Latin and Cuban Music events and programs in Cuba and the United States, mostly in the Bay Area. DjLeydis has been working with many iconic US-based artists like Erikah Badu, Most Def, El Nińo y la Verdad, Danay Suarez, Pedrito Martínez, Cimafunk and many more. In 2016, under President Obama, DjLeydis, a black Cuban female Dj, was invited to bring Cuban urban music to the hallways of The White House for the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations.

Yrak Saenz, a pioneer of Cuban Hip Hop and founder of the iconic rap group "Doble Filo," is one of the most influential figures in the history of Cuban rap. With over 30 years in the music industry, he has received numerous awards both in Cuba and internationally. His legacy has left an indelible mark on the Cuban Hip Hop scene, establishing him as one of the most important voices in the genre

Yrak Saenz, pionero del Hip Hop cubano y fundador de la emblemática agrupación de rap "Doble Filo," es una de las figuras más influyentes en la historia del rap en Cuba. Con más de 30 años de trayectoria en la música, ha sido galardonado con múltiples premios tanto en Cuba como en el extranjero. Su legado ha dejado una huella imborrable en la escena del Hip Hop cubano, consolidándolo como una de las voces más importantes del género.

Singer I Songwriter I Mul/-instrumentalimusical talent

Obrayan Calderon was born and raised in Santa Cruz del Norte, Cuba and at the age of six Obrayan’s father gifted him his first instrument, a trumpet. He quickly discovered his natural musical talent after receiving a lesson from his father’s friend, a local trumpet player. Obrayan initiated his study of European classical music in piano, vocal, and trombone at the EVA Juan Pablo Duarte in Güira de Melena, Cuba. He further advanced his training as a musician specializing in the trombone at The National School of Arts (ENA) in Habana. An institution of excellence, leading in Cuba’s art education producing widely recognized musicians such as Arturo Sandoval, Alexander Abreu, Yosvany Terry, and many others. After graduating, Obrayan recorded extensively and toured internationally with major Cuban musicians like songwriter Adalberto Alvarez y su Son, Juan Carlos Alfonzo y su Dan Den, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, Tania Pantoja, Mariana y la Maquinaria, and Jorgito Melodía. Later, he moved to the U.S. and settled in California joining the Bay Area’s music scene, taught Afro-Cuban music at the Oakland Public Conservatory of Music, and toured with Dirtwire, Chucho Valdés, Changüí Majadero, Afrolicious, and Edgardo Cambon. In 2020, he formed his Latin band, Los Calderones. Following that year, he recorded his first single, ¡Dale Mambo!. In 2023, his single Veneno was recorded and became available on music streaming platforms. His most recent single released in 2024, La Rumba Te Llama reached 61K views on YouTube.

Batuki is a dynamic San Francisco-based group of Brazilian percussion, dance, electronic melodic instruments, and vocals. A fusion of Latin music ranging from such backgrounds as Afro-Caribbean, Hip Hop, and Funk. An artistic collective made up of teaching artists, cultural ambassadors, and community workers. Batuki was created in response to the pandemic, holding outdoor rehearsals and free performances throughout the Bay Area. Batuki allows us to further fortify these relationships and make sure we as individuals, our culture, and communities thrive.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre, 4705 Third Street, San Francisco, United States