Colombia’s Cimarrón at Union Chapel in London

Colombia’s llanero band Cimarrón will be performing at Union Chapel in London on Thursday, 18 March, 2010. Cimarrón specializes in a genre called joropo. Hailing from the vast Orinoco plains which stretch from Colombia into Venezuela, joropo is a fast traditional rhythm played on harp, bandola and cuatro accompanied by bass, cajon and maracas.

Cimarrón fire up flawless virtuosity with a heart-stopping sense of drama. Led by harpist Carlos Rojas and based in Colombia, Cimarrón have been experimenting with the music of their homeland for the past two decades, on the search for new musical horizons whilst staying true to their roots.

The mestizo people who inhabit the llanos [plains] on the great Orinoco river are descendents of Spanish settlers, African slaves and Indigenous Indians. This is cattle rearing country where life revolves around country ranches. Music accompanies the daily working tasks such as milking and cattle drives. The word Cimarrón, meaning wild bull, is a symbol of liberty in Los Llanos.

This Colombian seven-piece wowed audiences at WOMAD with a spectacular, super-tight performance of joropo music and dance.

Thursday 18 March. Doors 7pm
Union Chapel
Compton Terrace, Islington, London, N1 2UN
Tel: 08444 77 1000 (Ticketweb)
www.unionchapel.org.uk