Shake off the lingering warmth of these mid-summer heatwaves with the balmy enchantments of Meridian Brothers at The Ford on Sunday, July 28th. This will be a fervent night of tropical music and dance featuring California-based QUITAPENAS and the reeling fusion of genres created by Eblis Álvarez and his merry bandmates. Tickets for the concert start at $35, but you can win a free pair during our upcoming giveaway. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to learn all the details about the ticket giveaway.

Words: Steven Ward

Embrace the summer swelter with a pair of incredible bands

With temperatures rising and the evening saturated by stifling heat—sometimes all you can do to escape it is to embrace it. There are few better ways to do this than surrounding yourself with good music and placing a cold drink in your hand. You’ll find both in abundance with Meridian Brothers and QUITAPENAS, both bands delivering their own charming, inventive, and mesmeric takes on tropical music. Winding rhythms, joyously off-kilter melodies, sublime instrumentals—expect all of this and more as you dance the night (and heat) away to the tune of these two ecstatically captivating bands.

Discover an experimental tonic of traditional Latin music in Meridian Brothers

Since the band’s formation over two decades ago, Álvarez has guided Meridian Brothers through a constant reimagination of everything from son and salsa to cumbia and reggaeton, mingling those traditions with psych-rock and electronica to conjure some truly hypnotic songs and albums. Their catalog is broad and vibrant in terms of both their idiosyncratic sound and the methods—from concept albums to adopting the identity of fictitious bands—used to bring them to life.

No deviation or eccentricity is too incongruent to be absorbed into Meridian Brother’s vision. Case in point: their latest project Mi Latinoamérica Sufre (2024) introduces the electric guitar to their tapestry of spiraling acoustics alongside touches of African-sourced styles like highlife and soukous.

Let QUITAPENAS lead you to an oasis of dance rhythms

A flurry of guitars, horns, and pattering drums, QUITAPENAS embodies the very spirit of Latin dance music. Their songs whisk you away to the nightly rituals shared across the Afro-Latin diaspora, urging even the most introverted bodies toward liberating movement. We recommend diving into their self-titled debut: a sizzling collection of jams that reveals the truth in their name, alleviating all your worries via a thrilling mixture of refulgent riffs and beguiling percussion.

A night for lovers

Maybe it’s the summer heat or the inherent passion elicited by a Latin guitar line—but an evening radiating with the sound of Meridian Brothers and QUITAPENAS is one ripe for romance. So, if you were looking for your next idea for date night, consider it found! Nothing will set the mood better than the kind of music meant to be expressed through the physical entanglement of two lovers.

Bring your own food and drinks to The Ford

One of the great perks of attending any concert at The Ford is bringing your meals and drinks of choice (hard liquor prohibited) to the show with you! Stock up on wine, beer, or your favorite mocktail, and any snacks you want to enjoy before or throughout the night. The venue has several secluded picnic areas that would make perfect spots for a romantic pre-show dinner or a place to gather la familia. This is a Sunday night show, so take advantage of the weekend lull in traffic to get there early and soak up the amphitheater’s idyllic atmosphere.

Alternatively, you can buy your bevs and grub from the new Bodega at The Ford or local curated Grab & Go Market offerings. Who doesn’t love to eat, drink, and experience live music all at the same time?!

Buy your tickets for Meridian Brothers at The Ford on July 28th. Check out the calendar for The Ford’s 2024 season which includes plenty more incredible shows on the horizon like the 8th Annual Boleros De Noche featuring José Feliciano and Los Caramelos, Los Cafres, ¡FIESTA! with Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Noche de Cumbia: Son Rompe Pera, Reyna Tropical, and Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Devendra Banhart, and more!

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