Music / world music
Bristol’s month in World Music – January 2026
Feliz año nuevo! Yes, other languages are available, but it has to be said that Bristol has a particularly rich feast of Latin music in January 2026.
A particular highlight has to be a three-day residency at the Jam Jar for the Buena Bristol Social Club (Thursday 9 – Saturday 11), Cuban trumpeter Michel Padron’s amazing supergroup of Latin musicians. Fronted by the phenomenal voice of Luisa Santiago and boasting Montuno Maestro Jim Blomfield on piano the band bring to life the music and spirit of the Buena Vista original.
For these nights they are paying tribute, in their own way, to Bristol legends Ataque Masivo (see what they did there?) and unsurprisingly tickets are selling very fast for this.
The following weekend is a big one for all the salseros and salseras who will pack out those BBSC nights: the 9th annual Bristol Salsa Congress (Trinity Centre, Friday 16 – Sunday 18) will be a celebration of salsa, bachata and much more. The weekend offers a wide range of workshops and classes as well as loads of social dancing with a star-studded range of live music and DJs.
There’s a global culture meltdown at Jam Jar when pianist Kishon Khan’s Asian/Cuban fusion outfit Lokhi Terra joins forces with Afrobeat doyen Dele Sosimi (Friday 16) for what they’re calling a ‘Cubafrobeat clash’.
It’s guaranteed to be danceable, whatever, as is the Afro-Brazilian sound of Soma Soma (Canteen, Saturday 31). Their 8-piece line-up blends cool Samba and Bossa sounds with the energetic West African grooves of HighLife and Afrobeat.
Guitarist Mario Bakuna’s band brings a more refined approach to the roots of Bossa Nova to the Jam Jar (Wednesday 21) with a live performance of the Getz/Gilberto album from 1965. Still one of the best selling jazz albums of all time, the collaboration of Brazilian Bossa genius João Gilberto with US sax tyro Stan Getz was a watershed release that instantly led to a global appreciation for Brazilian music.
And that original Bossa sound is the inspiration behind Zubieta and The Suaves (Canteen, Wednesday 28) when they bring guests to share Brazilian coolness. The Canteen also has its monthly Descarga session (Tuesday 20), a vibrant Latin jam session featuring many of the city’s finest.
Back in the 80s it was the late, great Ali Farka Touré who first introduced the remarkable electric guitar sounds emanating from the Sahara desert region, later followed by the hypnotic grooves of the Tinriwen ensemble.
Since then there’s been a strong appetite for ‘desert guitar’ and an understanding of the many regional influences that can share it. Daraa Tribes (Jam Jar, Saturday 3) incorporate their Moroccan roots into a lilting groove that also catches the edge of the North African Gnawa sounds.
The Gnawa Blues All-Stars (Canteen, Friday 16) take those same grooves, driven by the growling bass of the guembri, and add reggae and Afrobeat flavours.
While similarly never abandoning their Senegalese origins, the London-based Birame Seck & Awale Jant Band (Jam Jar, Friday 30) can turn their hand to reggae, Afrobeat, Mbalax and funk to make Senegalese Soul music.
Dub-lovers, meanwhile, should catch the Exchange’s Winter Warmer reggae night (Monday 26) for some heavyweight skanking and follow that with the Canteen’s Riddim reggae jam session (Tuesday 27).
The versatile duo Eastern Strings often appear as a trio with accordionist Mirek Salmon and for this month’s Cotham Club night (Cotham Parish Church, Friday 30) they’re expanding even further to a quintet.
Adding Tom Verity’s clarinet and Ricardo de Noronha on percussion allows them to explore a wide range of styles from Argentinian tango to Central European klezmer and the Middle Eastern traditions that inform the duo’s regular repertoire.
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
