11 March 2021
Melbourne's Latin culture scene is great! There are many places to eat, spaces to dance, festivals to go to and live music to immerse ourselves in, so that we can stay in touch with our favourite culture until we are allow to leave the island. This time we've prepared a guide to some of the amazing bands performing around marvellous multicultural Melbourne. Check them out!
Lead by Colombian duo Oscar Jimenez and Katherine Gailer, Amaru Tribe mixes vibrating strings, electronic sounds, afro-Latin beats, and powerful vocal harmonies. They have a deep connection with their roots, which is nurtured in their songs with a bilingual form that allows the listener to discover connections between Australia’s diverse cultural backgrounds.
Next gig: Friday May 14th at The Night Cat
The product of well-known Melbourne musicians Vashti Sivell, Stefania Quint, Elizabeth Obando and Cristian Saavedra, the quartet has slowly been growing into what is now a 10 piece monster line up which debuted their first original song at The Night Cat in 2018. This big band will surely satisfy your soul and leave your feet aching with their classic salsa and cumbia tunes.
Next gig: Sunday May 23rd at The Night Cat
Original Afro-Cuban Salsa made in Melbourne, inspired by Havana D'Primera, Irakere and all the heavy hitters from Cuba. This band is the creation of Salvador Persico and Daniel Mougerman, two crusaders of "la música bailable" who have put together an incredible line up of formidable talent.
Next gig: Sunday May 30th at Night Cat
With their roots in Argentina, The New Monos combine inspiration from their South American heritage and diverse musical experience with the flavor of contemporary Buenos Aires, mixing reggae, folklore, cumbia, rock, rumba, hip-hop and Latin beats, all expressed with the passion of the tango.
Next gig: No upcoming gigs
Quarter Street takes you back to the heart of classic salsa, revisiting an era where the music of the streets resonated with the voice of the people. Formed in early 2011, this dynamic live band with a driving rhythm section, all-trombone horn section and talented musicians is quickly making a splash in the Melbourne music scene.
Next gig: No upcoming gigs
Queen of hearts is an all-female band drawing from the Mexican mariachi tradition. These ladies from Latin America and Australia are breaking the traditional paradigm as the first all-woman mariachi group in Australia. They cover the traditional classics from artists such as Rocío Durcal and Juan Gabriel, as well as composing their original pieces about love, magic, betrayal, sex, power and passion.
Next gig: Friday May 14th at The Night Cat
SunSeeds is a Melbourne based band composed of four talented musicians who have come together to realise their dream of creating and sharing the music that they are passionate about, music from their land, their ancestors and Indigenous cultures of Chile, Colombia, and the Andean region. All these rhythms then get blended with a fresh and modern touch of electronica and house beats, creating a soundscape of colours, jungle, and psicodelia through drums, pipes and charangos and playing styles such as cumbia, saya and festejo.
Next gig: No upcoming gigs
Founded upon a shared love for both old and new wave Spanish flamenco, La Rumba present their unique and passionate take on the spontaneous rhythm that is rumba flamenca.
Having performed steadily on the Melbourne scene for over 10 years, La Rumba have established themselves as true crowd favourites: from their infectious grooves right through to their stirring guitar-instrumentals, this is one act not to be missed!
Next gig: No upcoming gigs
Do you know any other Latin bands in Melbourne?
Let us know!
Not sure which course is right for you? We’ve got you – answer a few questions to find the right class for you. Select the option that’s closest to your level of experience.
What's your experience with learning Spanish?
We heart absolute beginners. No matter the reason for wanting to learn, we have a class style for you.
Let’s build on those fundamentals! Progressing focuses on increasing grammar and vocabulary while building your speaking confidence.
Here’s where you learn to become fluent and begin to build natural interactions.
Join us for our Summer Intensives in 2026 (January 12-23) - an exciting two weeks of Spanish study in Northcote, Melbourne CBD and Online! This is a chance to boost your level in a way that would normally take months....
Penny
Australia's best-loved Spanish language school, now teaching in Melbourne CBD, Northcote, and Online. Learn Spanish socially - whoever and wherever you are.
Phil
The Spanish Film Festival is back in Melbourne in June/July and features the best cinema from Spain and Latin America.
Penny
“
You can't do better than this school! It's a very well organised school. They have so many levels you will find the right class for you. Great teachers, fun and just the right amount of challenge.
“
After becoming frustrated at my lack of progress with their competitor, I received a recommendation for the classes at El Patio. Since enrolling I have never looked back.
“
I never shut up about how much I like my classes, pretty sure my colleagues and all my friends are getting sick of hearing about it.
“
After finding another company frustrating and unenthusiastic, El Patio has reinvigorated my excitement for learning Spanish...
“
The teachers are welcoming and seem to love what they do, which brings passion to each class. The homework and resources are highly organised and professional. I would highly recommend El Patio Spanish
“
As a retired teacher, I know good teaching when I see it, and the teachers at El Patio are absolutely wonderful - caring, professional and fun.
Heart Spanish as much as we do? Join our newlsetter to hear of stories, school updates and all things Spanish.
We learn, teach and gather on Wurundjeri Land of the Kulin Nation. El Patio acknowledges and celebrates the stories, culture and heritage of the Traditional Owners of this land and we pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging.