Fiesta!

Overview

Greek. Gypsy.  Spanish. Portuguese. Senegalese. Afro-Peruvian. Mexican. Bulgarian. Balkan. Cafe Carnivale has a pretty full program this year. As a taster of globe-spanning goodness to come, it's brought together a collection of musicians to launch the 2011 Carnivale program with Fiesta! at Eastside Arts. The Cafe has been running ten years now, having grown out of the music program of the now-departed Carnivale festival.

Sometime Mariachi Victor Valdez — recently seen supporting chicano músicos Los Lobos at the Sydney Festival —  will play his surprisingly strong solo Mexican music on the harp. Mandie Vieira promises Fado — soulful Portuguese sound not unlike Flamenco singing — while Mousa Diakite will show off his hard-earned styles steeped in music from Mali and the Ivory Coast. Also present will be the Gypsy bass of John Maddock, Monsieur Camembert regular Eddie Bronson, and Uruguayan performer Jose Barroso. Cafe Carnivale musical director Justo Diaz completes the lineup, a talented musician himself, he has a staggering knowledge and collection of international instruments, many of which will join him on stage. So if you crave duende or other musical passions, get along to Eastside and join the party.