Previous entertainment at the Oxnard Salsa Festival. Photo by Roberto Bucio
OXNARD — The Oxnard Salsa Festival Friday Night Kick-Off Concert will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 25 with entertainment provided by the Oxnard Salsa Orchestra, led by Oxnard born and raised veteran percussionist Raul Rico Jr. The orchestra will provide a mix of classic and ‘Old School’ salsa music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Rico joins with his orchestra that features many of the area’s most prominent Latin musicians and bandleaders.
Tickets are $10 per person for the general concert or lawn seating, with tables for six available for $85.
Visit http://www.oxnardsalsafestival.com/KickOffConcert2014.aspx for more information.
The Oxnard Salsa Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27 at Plaza Park in Downtown Oxnard. The event features everything salsa, from the food to the music and dance.
The festival’s entertainment on the main stage will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26 with the performance by OPA OPA, an L.A.-based band formed in 1987 by Oswaldo Bernard and Anthony Apollo. The Salsa Dance Showcase, featuring performances by Ventura and Santa Barbara-based dance companies, will begin at 1 p.m. Sabor Latino Orchestra, which organizers said ranks among the most accomplished performers of the golden era of the Mambo Kings, New York Salsa and Afro-Cuban music, will perform at 2 p.m. The Yari Moré Latin Band will conclude the first day of entertainment at 4:45 p.m. For more than 20 years it has shared the stage with the biggest names in the salsa world including Tito Puente, Grupo Niche, Tony Vega, Marc Anthony, Tito Nieves, Eddie Santiago and Johnny Rivera.
Day-two entertainment begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 27 with the performance by Conjunto Afro Son. Bandleader, director and bongo player Bobby Escoto III’s goal is to increase awareness of the new generation about Afro Cuban and Puerto Rican music. The annual “Dancing with Our Community Stars – Dance Contest & Charity Fundraiser” will be held at 1 p.m. Orquesta Tabaco y Ron, featuring bandleader, producer and pianist Hector Manuel Rivera, and lead vocalist Martin Padilla, will perform at 2 p.m. Closing out the entertainment is the Janeen Puente Orchestra at 4:45 p.m., under the leadership of Janeen Puente, granddaughter of the late legendary Tito Puente, and musical director Fabian Otero. The festival will be held both days from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Plaza Park, Fifth and B streets.
Call 805-247-0197, or visit http://www.oxnardsalsafestival.com/music_schedule.aspx for more festival information.