Simonet Perez (group leader, piano), Diaz Casanova (vocals), Fernandez Macia (vocals), Rodriguez Gonzalez (vocals), Ramos Batista (congas), Riveron Mederos (drums), Guerra Montero (güiro), Vasquez Ley (bass), Arbolaez Suarez (trumpet), Martinez Galvez (trumpet), Alarcon Henville (trombone), Garzon Tabares (trombone), Bencomo Guedes (flute), Calderon Estrada (violoncello), Gaston Hernandez (violin), De Armas Laferte (keyboards)

Sixteen-member Manolito y su Trabuco is one of Cuba's greatest and best loved timba bands. The group's innumerable international tours are a mark of its huge success over the past 15 years.

Salsa lovers know what they're doing. Manolito y su Trabuco is an innovative group with a unique line-up. The latter is based on the traditional line-up of charanga orchestras (violon, cello and flute) plus timbales, to which visionary band leader Manolito Simonet has added keyboards and drums. Top that with three singers, who all take solos, and you have a veritable war machine. Manolito y su Trabuco has salseros the world over dancing. Resistance is useless!

Born in Camaguey in 1961, Manuel Simonet learnt piano and tres with the Amateur Artists Movement. In the early 1980, he became the pianist for two groups, Lagrimas Negras and Inspiracion, and in 1986 became musical director, composer and arranger for the Maravillas de Florida orchestra.

In 1993, he created his own group, Manolito y su Trabuco. The term "trabuco" in Cuba refers to a team's power, a bit like the Haka war dance performed by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. Manolito's Trabuco lives up to its name. It is a powerful, explosive group that inspires ecstatic reactions from fans and a hearty recommendation to see them live. In 1994, Mi Salsa, Cuba's most popular TV programme, hailed the group as the discovery of the year. The following year they produced their first record, Directo al Corazon, with Egrem and embarked on their first international tour. Both were an instant success.

More albums followed: Contra Todos los Pronosticos (Egrem, 1996), Marcando la Distancia (Egrem, 1998), Para Que Baile Cuba (Egrem, 2000) and Se Rompieron los Termometros (Egrem, 2001). Manolito y su Trabuco won the top dance music prize at the Cuban record festival Cubadisco in 1999 and 2000, as well as the Nicolas Guillen poetry for the track Llego la Musica Cubana. In 2004, their album Locos por mi Havana (Egrem) was a huge popular success. It took the Egrem prize for top-selling record, the critics' prize and won that year's top dance music prize. In 2006, the group brought out Hablando en Serio and in 2008 ‚Control‘.

True giants of Cuban music, Manolito y su Trabuco, are touring in 2011 presenting their last albums – the powerfull and danceable ‚Trabuco una vez mas‘ and ‚Beat Cubano‘ – the first Latin Jazz recording of the band.

Manolito y su Trabuco – best contemporary cuban music - not to be missed.


Entrance with full festival ticket or one-day ticket.