Flushing Town Hall (FTH), a nonprofit cultural institution dedicated to celebrating global arts in one of the world’s most diverse communities, will transform into a vibrant crossroads of Latin and Caribbean rhythm on Saturday, April 11, presenting a genre-bending double bill with acclaimed band Guachinangos and masterful musician Shiva Lakhan.
FTH announced Thursday, April 2, that Brooklyn Worldwide Comes to Queens, its latest Global Mashup concert, is produced in partnership with Jalopy Theatre.
The one-night event features Guachinangos’ playful blend of Colombian cumbia and Mexican son jarocho, alongside Shiva Lakhan’s vibrant mix of Trinidadian chutney, bhajans, and Indian classical songs, FTH said.
“Our partnered shows with Flushing Town Hall are so rewarding in that we all hold the collective mission to keep folk traditions alive and evolving through performance, education, and practice,” said Talia Keren-Zvi, program director at Jalopy Theatre and co-curator of the festival.
“The Global Mashup series aptly highlights how cultures coexist and influence each other in our city,” she added. “Brooklyn World Wide, as a festival, reflects New York’s cultural fabric, shaped by Diaspora, and how many of us have found new homes here.”
“It’s an honor to be able to extend this festival beyond the reach of our Brooklyn-based venue, and to share it with such a warm and receptive community in Queens,” Keren-Zvi continued.
The global dance party begins at 7 p.m. with lessons, inviting audiences to learn the basics of cumbia and chutney before the main performances.
At 8 p.m., Guachinangos and Shiva Lakhan each perform sets that highlight their unique musical approaches: Guachinangos blends Colombian cumbia with Mexican son jarocho, while Lakhan presents Trinidadian chant and classical song.
The event culminates in a one-night musical mashup and improvised set, FTH said.
“Audience members can expect a joyful mix of international sounds, where genres rooted in Indigenous, African, Indian, and European rhythms blend for an electrifying experience,” it said.
FTH Executive and Artistic Director Ellen Kodadek said: “We can’t wait to shake off our winter blues to son jarocho, cumbia, chutney — and more.
“Global Mashups are the musical heartbeat of Flushing Town Hall. This time, we’re partnering with Brooklyn’s Jalopy Theatre for today’s best folk music, while honoring Queens’ creative diversity,” she said.
For more information, visit: https://www.flushingtownhall.org/show-details/global-mashup-brooklyn-world-wide-comes-to-queens
