When
Join us Friday, October 2nd for La Peña del SurCo fearuring El SurCo, Groupo Ariizona & more!
Date and Time: Friday, October 2nd, 6-8 p.m.
(Empanadas for sale as of 5:30 as NO FOOD is permitted inside the theater.
Location: The Little Theater at Project MORE High School.
440 S Park Ave.
La Peña del SurCo celebrates folk and populat music traditions from across Latin America through intimate, acoustic, and participatory musical gatherings. This ongoing initiative is led by applied intercultural arts and health researcher Dr. Jennie Gubner, in collaboration with members of her musical group, El SurCo including Maximiliano Larrea, Dr. Esteban Hernandez Parra & Dr. Gabriela Ocadiz. As a living research lab, the project asks: How can we use Latin American models of cultural organizing and participatory music-making to build spaces for intergenerational connection, diasporic belonging and resilience, and creative wellbeing in our Southwest Borderlands region.
A peña is an informal Latin American folk music gathering where people come together for music, dancing, food, and community. Unlike a traditional concert, peñas are highly participatory, often featuring multiple musical groups, communal singing, and performances by community members, and are designed to welcome music lovers of all ages.
Read more about the initiative and register for upcoming events through the Eventbrite link below or on our website, elsurcotucson.com.
October’s Featured Performers:
Grupo Arizona is a dynamic classical and jazz fusion chamber ensemble rooted in Mexican and Latin musical traditions. The ensemble is based in Tucson, AZ, and comprises UA music students and alumni. Its mission is to elevate and expand the reach of the rich musical genres from Mexico and across Latin America. Its performances pay homage to the original artists while also serving as a creative outlet for its members to explore their musical education and creativity through unique arrangements. Check out their Instagram account here. https://www.instagram.com/grupoarizona.music/
El SurCo is a musical collective that blends guitars, violin, charango, bombo, and vocal harmonies to bring to life chacareras, cuecas, chamamés, gatos, cumbias, tonadas, and other Latin American popular and folk stringed music traditions from Argentina to Colombia and beyond. The word surco means groove in Spanish, and references the furrows where seeds are planted in agricultural fields. A musical term with a rural subtext that speaks to the landscape where many of these styles emerged and continue to thrive, El SurCo (or The Southern Collective) transport their listeners into the diverse and vibrant musical ecosystems of South America. Current SurCo members are: Maxi Larrea (guitar, vocals, bombo), Jennie Gubner (violin, vocals, bombo), Esteban Hernández Parra (viola, bombo, vocals), Gabriela Ocadiz (vocals, guitar), and frequent invited guests.
A few tips about our new location:
1. There is a parking lot across the street that offers free parking, and additional street parking surrounding the venue.
2. There is no food allowed in the venue so we will be opening doors at 5pm for folks to come early to eat and socialize before music starts at 6pm.
3. Because we are now at a school, there is no alcohol allowed on the premises.
This event is ADA-accessible, age-friendly and free and open to everyone, so bring your friends and family! Empanadas will be for sale from Che’s Empanadas. We will have water available, but you are welcome to bring your own drinks (No alcohol). Our chairs tend to fill up fast- come early or bring your own to be safe.
See you soon,
Dr. Jennie Gubner
We want to give a huge thank you to all of our sponsors including The Tucson Guitar Society, The Culture for Peace Alliance, and The University of Arizona Applied Intercultural Arts Research Program, Southwest Center, and The School of Music.