The warm sounds of Mexican music will bring a festive atmosphere to Centre Stage Theatre later this month.
El Mariachi los Dorados will perform on Saturday, March 22.
The concert will feature music from the band’s new album, Si Tu Te Vas (If You’re Going to Go.)
The 12-piece ensemble performs traditional Mexican music, but includes some new compositions, said Diego Kohl, who plays the guitarrón, a bass instrument.
The band has performed for 10 years but continues to make some changes. This year, the band features a new singer, Ricardo Ochoa, who also plays the viuella, a small guitar-like instrument.
Band leader Alex Alegria said the music has strong roots in the band’s Mexican heritage.
“All of it is very traditional,” he said. “We want to keep the tradition going.”
Alegria founded the ensemble in May 2003 to bring traditional Mexican music to Canada. Mariachi Los Dorados name comes from General Francisco Villa’s army “Los Dorados” in which some members were from North America.
Los Dorados are well known through Western Canada for their mixture of Canadian and Mexican talent.
The musicians deliver the passion, love and respect they feel for Mexico and its culture. One of the missions of Mariachi Los Dorados is to maintain and promote the beauty of Mexico through its traditional and uplifting music.
For over a decade, Los Dorados have played at events and festivals across Western Canada, in the U.S. and Mexico, with feature performances at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the 2011 and 2012 Calgary Stampede and a number of times at the Guadalajara International Mariachi Festival.
Los Dorados have been sharing the passion, love and respect for this internationally recognized art form.
“There is something very mystical about mariachi music,” said Alegria. “It always tells a story, with its great mixture of culture, history, romance and elegance. It’s a musical style that brings people together, no matter who they are.”
They have shared the stage with many international acts including Big Sugar, Mariachi Vargas and Mariachi Los Camperos, widely hailed as Mexico’s top mariachi groups.
Their distinct look has landed them in commercials and they have been featured on CBC CTV, City TV, Global TV, Omni TV, Shaw Television and National TV stations in Mexico TV Azteca and Televisa.
The Summerland concert on March 22 begins at 8 p.m. at the Centre Stage Theatre.
Tickets are available at Martin’s Flowers in Summerland and The Dragon’s Den in Penticton.
