Free Music
Grammy Award-winning Grupo Fantasma is home and ready to reconnect withAustin... for free
- Grupo FantasmaPhoto by Brian Blauser
- Kino, Vocals and Hand PercussionPhoto by Brian Blauser
- Grupo FantasmaPhoto by Brian Blauser
- Grupo FantasmaPhoto by Brian Blauser
- Grupo FantasmaPhoto by Brian Blauser
It's been one hell of a year for Austin-based latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma. Back in February they won their first Grammy Award since they formed in 2000 and it's been non-stop fun and work ever since.
This year the band's traveled around Europe performing at various festivals like the Tempo Latina Festival in France as well as tackling several performances throughout the U.S. In fact, the band just knocked out a midwest tour with performances in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Cleveland among several other cities.
Now it's time for a break. The band is back home and committed to reconnecting with the community that helped launch their career as one of the most successful and influential independent latin groups around. And there's no better way to reconnect then a big community-wide concert.
Grupo Fantasma will be performing Sunday night at the Long Center for the Performing Arts; the official kickoff to the Long Center's free Terrace Concert Series which will include two more events in the future.
Percussionist and vocalist Kino Esparza is excited to see some familiar faces in the crowd as well as some new ones.
"At free concerts there's obviously a bigger crowd, lots of fresh ears and at the end of the night we have more joinng the fan club,"
The band plans to play some of their greatest hits and several tunes off their new album El Existential as well as a few songs they have yet to record.. The 10-piece orchestra is high energy and likes to mix things up with a little bit of cumbia, salsa, raggea and more.
"If you want a taste of some old and new booty shaking music, come check us out."
The band plans to stick around Austin for a while following Sunday night's show. While in Austin Esparza said they plan to write 4 to 5 new songs, hit the recording studio, and just enjoy being home.