UPCOMING EVENTS @ LULA

AUGUST FRIDAY CONCERT SERIES

This Friday, August 25th, Lula Lounge's Tropical Friday Jazz Series continues featuring Argentinian vocalist Laura Ocampo. Laura explores the traditional and contemporary musical forms of her native Argentina blending forms such as chacarera, zamba and traditional ballads. Come early and enjoy a tropical fusion dinner then stay late for a salsa lesson and one of Canada' hottest salsa ensembles - Café Cubano.

Laura Ocampo (followed by Café Cubano at 10 pm)

Friday August 25 event details and information

Caribe Son

There's still time for a few more real summer parties. Don't miss the one happening at Lula next Friday when Mister Billy Bryans presents the extraordinary Cuban sextet Caribe Son. This will be one of their last performances before heading back to Cuba after a summer of touring Canada. As always dinner reservations guarantee best seating or come for the 9PM dance lesson and dance until the wee hours.

Brasil @ Lula

Lula has two great Brazilian nights planned for September with more later in the fall. On September 10th Rob Curto's Forro for All will treat us to a night of Brazilian Forro. In the tradition of Luiz Gonzaga, Rob Curto’s Forró For All is a band dedicated to the sound of “forró pé-de-serra”, but performed with a sensibility born of New York City’s diverse and dynamic musical culture. With special guests Maracatu Nunca Antes, this will be a night for dancing from start to finish. On September 29th Small World Music and Composition present vibraphone and harmonica master Hendrik Meurkens exploring Brazilian music from samba and choro through bossa and jazz. The concert will be followed by a samba lesson and Brazilian band Parabolica lead by vocalist Guiomar Campbell.

Fans of Brazilian music should mark October 13th in their calendars. On this date Gary Topp will bring accoustic guitar player and singer Badi Assad back to Lula Lounge. The sister of famous Brazilian musicians Sergio and Odair Assad, Badi released a new album in April of this year to critical aclaim. Badi's concert will be followed by dancing to Brazilian percussion troupe Maracatu Nunca Antes.

Badi Assad (followed by Maracatu at 11 pm)

Brazilian guitarist Badi Assad redefines solo guitar performance! "Revelatory, a brilliant display of innovation, imagination and skill... almost hypnotically compelling."
~ LOS ANGELES TIMES.

Friday October 13 event details and information

Bryan Vargas

New York comes to Toronto on the 14th and 15th of September with the first ever Canadian peformance by Bryan Vargas & Ya Esta! Vargas was one of the founding members and the original guitarist of the famous Antibalas Afrobeat Ochestra. His current group delivers "Afro-Latino Soul" that hits hard and is guaranteed to inspire dancing. Inspired by the likes of Mongo Santamaria and the Fania All-Stars, Vargas' band is sure to deliver a real New York - style party.

Jazz @ Lula

Among the surprises we have in store this fall are two nights presented by JAZZ.FM 91 radio host Jaymz Bee. Jaymz presents two early Friday concerts this month with Babes in Jazz Land (Marieve Herington cd release opening) on September 8th and Kollage on September 15th. Both of these jazz concerts will be followed by our regular Friday salsa lesson and live salsa band. So come early for dinner and jazz and stay late for the dancing.

Jaymz Bee has also just announced that he will present a regular Tuesday Night Jazz series at Lula. Performances are still to be confirmed but rumour has it that among the artists in the series we can expect Colleen Allen, Mark Jordan, Janelle Monique, John Southworth and The Royal Jelly Orchestra.

Don't wait till November to join us at Lula for the best of Toronto jazz. As part of the Chet Baker Jazz Festival this labour day weekend, Lula is proud to host a night of up-and-coming jazz artists featuring Sophia Perlman, David Virelles, Danny DePoe, Torry Cassis and Jenna Andrews. Proceeds will support the Chet Baker Jazz Foundation.

Small World Music Festival

Celebrating the festival's fifth anniversary, Small World presents the best from the global music scene from September 21st to October 1. Presentations at Lula Lounge will include Italian performers Fiamma Fumana and Carmen Consoli, local afrobeat group Mr. Something Something, Kinnie and Tanya Tagac, Montreal-based Joaquin Diaz, Hendrik Meurkens, and many more. Tickets go on sale Monday August 28th through ticketpro.ca. Check Lula.ca for details and remember that dinner reservations guarantee seating.