Seven years after celebrating cumbia at the Hollywood Bowl, Grupo Cañaveral makes their return back to the legendary amphitheater to once again dedicate another stirring night to cumbia alongside three other sizzling groups, shaping what’s expected to be a thrilling time on Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Hollywood Bowl. When Grupo Cañaveral first performed at the Bowl in 2017, they were joined by La Sonora Dinamita, who will also perform in addition to Los Hermanos Flores and Cumbiatón.

Tickets are available now starting at $20, but you can also win a pair through Grimy Goods! Subscribe to our newsletter to be one of the first to know when we announce the giveaway. Considering every group set to perform specializes in making the best time for everyone on stage and in the crowd, have your dancing shoes on because you’ll want to be standing through the night.

Words: David Sosa

How cumbia started and its recent influx in modern music

Originally stemming from African and indigenous people in 19th century Colombia, cumbia is a dance-centered music genre that utilizes several instruments, including but not limited to percussion, guitars, and maracas. By the mid to late 20th century, the genre had spread across Latin America, particularly in Mexico, with just about each region having its own interpretation of cumbia while keeping the core cultural elements intact. The past decade has seen a rise in cumbia bands, with modern bands like Son Rompe Pera, Buyepongo, Very Be Careful, and Meridian Brothers paving the way, along with up-and-coming artists like LA LOM and Estevie, to name a few. These groups have helped bring the sound into the mainstream, bringing it to a broader audience at a rate similar to reggaeton in recent years.

Experience the best of of Cumbia Sonidera

Mexico’s Grupo Cañaveral De Humberto Pabón makes up the gold standard when it comes to cumbia sonidera within the past few decades. Founded nearly 30 years ago, the group made a name for itself internationally by both honoring the sound and expanding its reach, whether that be through collaborating with a diverse group of artists or covering popular songs not originally falling into cumbia. “Tiene Espinas El Rosal,” by far their biggest hit out of a lengthy career marked by multiple hits, is a textbook example of cumbia sonidera, with the combination of percussion, keys, and interjecting vocals all hallmarks for the genre. On top of having already performed at the Hollywood Bowl back in 2017 for Mexican Independence Week, their longstanding adherence to Mexican cumbia is enough to ensure they’re more than qualified to headline an event specifically celebrating cumbia.

Dance to one of the pioneers of Colombian cumbia

Originators through and through, La Sonora Dinamita are the type of group who, if plucked out of history, would drastically change where cumbia is today. One of the main groups credited for taking cumbia from Colombia and bringing it to the world, first forming in 1960 and still going strong today, their enduring success is in part thanks to an alternating lineup that always manages to remember why dynamite (translates to dinamita in Spanish) is part of their name. Although there are many subgenres to cumbia, all of which could be dissected for their subtleties, it’s safe to say La Sonora Dinamita is the closest anyone could get to true cumbia from Colombia, simultaneously continuing to inspire Latin American artists locally and internationally.

Feel all the world flavors of cumbia music

Los Hermanos Flores’ size happens to be matched by its talent. As another reminder of cumbia’s reach, the El Salvador orchestra began in the 1960s and captivated listeners by combining cumbia and jazz, a unique fusion that has spanned generations within the group. Similarly, Cumbiatón, a DJ collective made up of women that has extended all across California since its conception in Boyle Heights, cultivates Latin music of all kinds during their live sets and is known for using cumbia as a vehicle to explore other genres, ranging from hip-hop to reggaeton. As part of the KCRW Festival, the night will be hosted by Raul Campos, who’s well-versed in all things dance music.

Pro tips when at the Hollywood Bowl

With the night entirely dedicated to cumbia, there’s a high probability you will dance through all the groups’ set times. Since the show is on a Sunday evening, there is no need to worry about any traffic when gates open at 5:30. However, if you plan on drinking, whether it be your beer—because yes, you can bring your own drinks—or a good bottle of wine from the Bowl, be mindful of the Monday morning after. A mocktail won’t disappoint in that regard. Regardless, any option is sure to make for a good time with some live cumbia on stage.

There’s also a wide selection of food around the amphitheater, so there’s no need to fear making a trek through hills and valleys to get between concessions and your seats. You can also opt to pack a picnic and bring your own meal.

ARTISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

BEST NEW MUSIC

The Hollywood Bowl offers many other shows before and after their night for cumbia. In fact, their entire 2024 season has a little bit of everything for fans of any genre, whether it be in the form of an orchestra or your favorite artists making waves across music as of late. On our radar: Camilo, Jungle, and Mitski.