Founded by the Latin Grammy-nominated band Making Movies, Celebrate AMERI’KANA is a traveling festival celebrating the diverse colors of American music. Looking to redefine “Americana,” the festival highlights the crossroads of languages and rhythms that shape the musical identity of the Americas.
This year, the festival welcomes Rubén Albarrán, the legendary frontman of Café Tacvba and one of Latin America’s most influential and innovative artists. For over three decades, Rubén has shaped the sound of Latin rock, blending traditional Mexican music with alternative rock, electronic, and experimental styles—pushing artistic boundaries at every turn. With a voice Billboard calls “a multifaceted wonder,” Rubén has captivated audiences around the world, whether delivering a piercing ballad, an explosive punk chorus, or an electrifying DJ set.
Beyond his iconic work with Café Tacvba, Rubén has collaborated with artists like Calle 13, Natalia Lafourcade, Julieta Venegas, and Gustavo Santaolalla. Under his DJ moniker Pinche Pinchadiscos, he brings that same boundary-defying spirit to the dance floor, spinning global beats with the energy and theatricality that have defined his career. From massive festivals like Rock al Parque and Ruido Fest to sold-out club nights in Berlin and Bogotá, Rubén’s performances are celebrations of rhythm, resistance, and cultural pride.
Making Movies is a band based in the United States with a sound Rolling Stone describes as “an eclectic blend of rumbero percussions, delicate organs, and grungy fuzz rock.” Led by Panamanian singer/guitarist Enrique Chi, Mexican-American percussionist and keyboardist Juan-Carlos Chaurand, and drummer Duncan Burnett, the band rose to acclaim through a decade of relentless touring in the US and Latin America.
The band collaborated with Rubén Blades on the single “No Te Calles,” which NPR included in their Best of 2019 list and became the opening track of his album Paraiso Road Gang, nominated for Latin Grammy Album of the Year. They’ve also toured alongside Los Lobos, Ozomatli, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Thievery Corporation, and more.
La Lulu, a Latin Grammy-winning violinist, vocalist, and dancer whose explosive stage presence channels the soul of cumbia through a New York lens. Born in Cali, Colombia and raised in NYC, La Lulu fuses salsa, spanglish rhymes, and unapologetic energy into music that is both deeply rooted and fiercely contemporary.
