LULA ANNOUNCES TWO COOL NEW SERIES FOR A HOT SUMMER

Small World Music and Lula Lounge present a six week-series of the next wave of the Nuevo Latino Movement. Across the Americas, young musicians in urban centres such as New York City, Cartegena, São Paulo and Havana are simultaneously exploring the fusion of traditional Latin and Brazilian rhythms and melodies with contemporary rock, funk, hip hop, jazz, techno, and reggae. The huge success of Reggaeton artists such as Daddy Yankee and Ivy Queen as well as Mexican born singer composer Manu Chao points to the power of these hybrid latin forms. Toronto's own incredible diversity makes our city the ideal crucible for the exchange of musical influences that characterize the Latin Alternative Movement. Movimiento is the musical combustion of "las calles de Toronto."

July 14: MOVIMIENTO! LAUNCH PARTY: with WAYOVE! + DIRTY MARIA

July 21: MOVIMIENTO!: AFRO-COLOMBIAN FUNK WITH PLAN-C

July 28: MOVIMIENTO! BRAZILIAN & GLOBAL RHYTHMS WITH BEAT MIGRATION

Lula Lounge presents Cristal Cuban Fridays featuring Café Cubano. Anyone following Toronto’s Latin music scene will know that Café Cubano is the talk of the town. With their unparalled showmanship and tight but driving renditions of Salsa classics, Café Cubano will transport you to the sultry nightclubs of Havana.

Cristal Cuban Fridays kick off on July 8 with the AfroCuban rhythms of Evaristo Machado and his salsa orchestra performing original and classic compositions. On July 22, Cuban Cristal Fridays presents Ruben Vazquez and friends. Each Friday there will be Cristal merchandise and cd giveaways.

For those recently bitten by the salsa bug, we’ve lined up dance instructors from Dance to Live, Mambotribe, Rhythm and Motion, iFreestyle.ca and more to help you master the salsa basics, check out a different style every week. $45 Dinner, dance lesson and show packages are also available every Friday.

Don’t miss Energia Latina on Saturday July 16. Lead by Toronto salsa veteran Angel Luis and featuring Daniel Stone, Alexis Baro and Chendy Leon, Energia Latina was one of the first Latin bands to establish itself in the Toronto Salsa scene. Havana born Luis, who has performed with Jesus “Chucho” Valdez as well as Mayra Caridad Valdez, heads this all-star group to deliver a seasoned but newly inventive energy to Lula’s Saturday Salsa nights.

Saturday July 16: Energia Latina

Ramblin’ Jack Elliott calls DeNatale, “The Bard of Tomales Bay”. Tom Waits calls him, “a unique and original American voice”. Born and raised in Northern California, singer-songwriter DeNatale came into his artistic own playing in the bars, cafes, railway stations and rooftops of Massachusetts and New York City. His debut CD Shangri-La West received rave reviews for it’s lyrical richness and spirited raconteurship. DeNatale is definitely a rising star on the horizon of alternative folk

Wednesday July 13: Jesse DeNatale

Timbales master Ralph Irizarry christened Lula Lounge at it’s inception three years ago and has honoured us with a visit every year since. Born in Spanish Harlem to Puerto Rican parents, Irizarry is a self-taught genius of percussion who has played with such giants as Sonora Ponceña, Cachao, Celia Cruz, Juan Luis Guerra, Ruben Blades and Ray Barretto. (Really, what more do you want?)

This October he’ll introduce us to his latest musical venture -- the 10-piece NY salsa orchestra SonCafé. The 2005 release “Bailando con... Azucar!” simultaneously exhibits a sweet maturity and the cutting edge energy of a New York City power salsa band. If there is any order in the univese, this show will sell out so reserve early. Tickets go on sale July 3. 416 588 0307

Thank you to everyone who helped us to celebrate our third anniversary, the festival was a huge success both in terms of the caliber and diversity of the music presented as well as in terms of audience attendance. Over 70 performers from well over 20 countries took part in the ten-day world music series. From Malagasy soul to Klezmer to Quebecois folk to the hottest salsa party of the year, LULA WORLD took us on a ten-day trip around the globe - without our having to leave Dufferin and Dundas.

We are especially grateful to Small World Music, Music Africa, David Buchbinder, Daniel Stone, Jane Bunnett, Franco-Féte and Borealis Records for their hard work to put the evenings together. We'd also like to thank our wonderful staff for all their hard work as well as legendary presenter Gary Topp for taking a chance on us right from the start. We hope that those who attended the LULA WORLD had as much fun as we did and that you'll join us again next year.

Alberto Suarez, Alex Godinez, Anit Ghosh, Benny Esguerra, Benoit Bourque, Bill McBirnie, Bob Stevenson, Bryden Baird, Catarina Cardeal, Celina Carroll, Chester Manoharan, Daniel Barnes, Daniel Leon, Daniel Stone, David Buchbinder, David Virelles, Devon Henderson, Didace Grondin, Dione Taylor, Donné Robert, Ethan Ardelli, Evaristo Machado, Funky Francky, Gaboo Lajoie, George Koller, Glenda Del Monte, Hilario Duran, Jamie Stager, Jane Bunnett, Juan Carlos Cardenas, Larry Cramer, Levon Ichkhanian, Luis Mario Ochoa, Luisito Denis, Luisito Guerra, Lundo y Maruchka Chango, Marco Paradis, Marilyn Lerner, Mario Allard, Mark McLean, Mateo Van Vliet, Mayito del Monte, Melissa Bertulien, Mike Siracusa, Mireya Escalante, Nancy Walker, Necmi Cavli, Nick Ali , Nick Fraser, Nicolas Boulerice, Oliver Demers, Peter Lutek, Ricky Franco, Roula Saide, Ruddy Bolaños, Sean Donelly, Silvio Gonzales, Simon Beaudry, Victor Bateman, Wilson Acevedo, Yannick Malboeuf.

(We know we’re missing a few of you but if you give us the heads up, we’ll update the list pronto.)