Havana's Drum Festival kicks off (+ Billboard)

The XXI Guillermo Barreto in Memoriam Drum Festival kicked off last Tuesday, March 5 in Havana, marking another year of celebration of Cuba's rich percussion tradition. This event, which pays tribute to legendary drummer Guillermo Barreto, has become an essential rendezvous for musicians and percussion aficionados from all over the world.

Throughout the week, Havana will be the epicenter of the drumming universe, hosting a wide range of activities including percussion competitions, workshops, master classes and concerts. Participants have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Cuba's vibrant musical legacy, learn from renowned masters and experience first-hand the innovation and tradition that characterize Cuban music.

As every year, the Fiesta del Tambor stands out for its competition program, which encompasses various categories such as percussion, drums, and dance, allowing emerging talents to showcase their skills and compete for prestigious prizes. In addition, the event features the participation of national and international artists, who offer memorable performances that fuse genres and styles, demonstrating the universality and richness of percussion.

The Fiesta del Tambor is not only a tribute to Guillermo Barreto, but also a platform for the promotion of young talent and cultural exchange. It is a space where tradition meets modernity, and where musicians from different parts of the world can share their passion for music and percussion.

Below you can consult the event's schedule:

Tuesday, March 5th

• Music and Dance Master Class: 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., Tropicana Crystal Arches.
• Casino competitions (DJ Javier): 11:00 AM, Tropicana Crystal Arches.
• Drumming skills (for professionals): 1:00 p.m., Los Jardines de Tropicana.
• Rumba for the neighborhoods. Concert by Rumbatá: 6:00 p.m., Guaiacanamar Park, Regla.
• Concerts by Taínos de Mayarí and Ronald y Explosión Rumbera: 7:00 p.m., Patio La Guantanamera of the Casa de la Cultura de Centro Habana.
• Mambo Party (After Party): 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.mpm, El Johnny Club.

Wednesday, March 6th

• Music and Dance Master Class (How to play, sing and dance different Matanzas rhythms): 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., Tropicana Crystal Arches.
• Rumba competitions, eliminatory (DJ Javier). Couple dances (guaguancó and yambú). Columbia: 11:00 a.m., Los Jardines de Tropicana.
• Timbal and congas competitions (for students): 11:00 a.m., Los Jardines de Tropicana.
• Descendencia Rumbera Concert: 4:00 p.m., Casa de la Trova de Guanabacoa.
• Concert by Ronald y Explosión Rumbera: 6:00 p.m., Guaiacanamar Park, Regla.
• WOW and Rumbatá concerts): 6:00 p.m., Patio La Guantanamera of the Casa de la Cultura de Centro Habana.
• Infinity Party (After Party): 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m., El Johnny Club.

Thursday, March 7th

• Rumba for the neighborhoods. Concert by Awo Ashé: 6:00 p.m., 9 de Abril Park, Cotorro.
• Women in Cuban percussion. Raíces Fair, Afro fashion show, sale of costume jewelry, beauty products and Afro hair care: 6:30 p.m., Salón Rosado de La Tropical.
• Concert by Roberto Fonseca y La Gran Diversion: 7:00 p.m., National Museum of Fine Arts.
• Gala Night. Tribute to Piloto and Vera. Grupo Klímaz, Ronald y Explosión Rumbera, Leo Vera, Idania Valdés, Mónica Mesa, Tiempos Company. Special guests: Eduardo Ramos, Atocha Showman and The Drumming Wonders of Burundi: 8:30 p.m., America Theater.
• Final of rumba (guaguancó, yambú and columbia) and percussion (congas and timbal) competitions. America Theater.

Friday, March 8th

• Awo Ashé Concerts: 6:00 p.m., El Balcón de Mi Ciudad, Belascoaín and Malecón.
• Concert by Jorge Luis Pacheco y Los Drummers & Friends (Giraldo Piloto, Oliver Valdés, Ruly Herrera, Jorge Reyes Alejandro Delgado and Eduardo Sandoval): 7:00 p.m., National Museum of Fine Arts.
• Gala Night. For you, woman. Rumbatá, Waldo Mendoza and his group, Vania Borges, María Victoria, Ballet del Teatro América. Special guests: DJ Rickafed and Oro Dance Company. Casino competition final: 8:30 p.m., America Theater.
• Concert and After Party: 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m., El Johnny Club.

Saturday, March 9th

• Rumba for the neighborhoods. Concerts by Obini Bata and Grupo WOW: 6:00 p.m., El Balcón de Mi Ciudad, Belascoaín and Malecón.
• Gala Night. Tribute to Carlos Embale and Adalberto Álvarez. Los muñequitos de Matanzas, Adalberto Álvarez y su Son, Mayito Rivera y Compañía Tiempos. Special guests: Rodrígo Íter (drummer, Chile), and Arley Valdés (visual artist). Professional drummers competition final. Percussion competition awards (professional drummers, timbal and congas): 8:30 p.m., America Theater.
• Closing concerts by Rumbatá, Brenda Navarrete y Su Grupo & guests): 10:00 p.m., Galeano Street.
• Mega Party (After Party): 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m., El Johnny Club.

Sunday, March 10th

• La Rumba del Cayo. Concert by Grupo Oba Ilu and Wapara: 5:00 p.m., Callejón de Hamel, Centro Habana.
• Closing Gala. Rumba and casino competitions awards. Pupy y Los que Son Son, Cabaret Tropicana, Ballet del Teatro América, Proyecto Juvenil Son Biyaya. Special guests: Conjunto Folclórico Nacional de Cuba and Arley Valdés: 5:00 p.m., America Theater.
• Closing Concerts. Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Alexander Abreu and Havana D'Primera: 10:00 p.m., Galeano Street.
• Concert and After Party: 10:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m., El Johnny Club.