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21st CENTURY CHARANGA
from the UK's finest Charanga band

CHARANGA DEL NORTE are a spirited, energetic UK-based Charanga band. The group is led by the flute and violins with the line-up completed with vocals, electric bass, piano, timbales, congas and güiro.

"Charanga Del Norte have the knack of turning the graceless lurching of flabby Englishmen into snake-hipped Latino dance heroes - through the remorseless seductiveness of their music"
Anthony Roberts, Colchester Arts Centre 2005
 

Charanga del Norte are featured on three UK Salsa Compilations, "The Essential Guide to Salsa", "Everybody Salsa" and "Everybody Salsa 2", released worldwide on the Avid Record Label and distributed by B.M.G.

Two new CD albums were released in 2005: The Best of Charanga del Norte, available from: Knock on Wood and Passion Music. The new CD "Sapo Guapo: Charanga Del Norte live at Trowbridge Festival" is available online (see recordings page for links).

Charanga del Norte's music has been played worldwide by

• Al Angeloro on New York's Radio Soleil
• Cuba's Radio Cadena and Radio Metropolitana by Cuban DJ Toni Basanta
• Solar Latin Club Radio in Cali Colombia by DJ El Chino
• Andy Kershaw on radio 1
• GLR Sadie Nine radio show
• Paul Sherratt on Global Jukebox radio
• Verity Sharp on radio 3's Late Junction.

Charanga del Norte toured the UK in 2003 and 2005. See reviews page for details
They will be touring the UK on their 10th anniversary tour in 2008.

Charanga del Norte have performed at many venues across the UK, including:

• Hull Jazz Festival
• Darlington Arts Centre
• Brampton Live Festival, Carlisle
• Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• Sidmouth Festival
• Sunderland Kite Festival (organised by SAGE Gateshead)
• Adam Smith Theatre, Fife
• Harrogate Festival
• Cheltenham Festival
• Trowbridge Festival
• The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
• The Castle Arts Centre, Wellingborough
• Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
• Colchester Arts Centre
• Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
• Whitby Musicport Festival

Charanga del Norte is included on the Yorkshire Arts Board "Musicians in Residence" scheme for 2007 which means promoters in the Yorkshire Arts area can get up to 40% discount from Yorkshire Arts when they book the band.

"The evocative sounds of Charanga Del Norte infused the stunning Cornish moorland setting with warmth and rhythm - even the Mosquitoes were dancing!"

Sue Richardson, Development Director, North Cornwall Arts

"Charanga make the grade. I would recommend them to anyone interested in programming well made music with afro-cuban origins."

Howard Raynor
Chief Executive of Bridgewater Hall

"superb UK-based salsa and charanga band"

Songlines magazine

"Red-hot Cubano-Yorkshire fusion - real Salsa wi' nowt tekken out!"

Brampton Live Festival 2003

"Close your eyes and you might have supposed you were in a ramshackle cantina in downtown Havana"

DAVID BRIERS, HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER

"Latin music, but not as you may know it, this band are deliciously different and incredibly danceable"

The Lemon Tree Aberdeen 2003