PIPIRIS NIGHTS - Joropos llaneros from Venezuela
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Pipiris Nights brings Venezuelan musician Mafer Bandola, known from Ladama, together with friends for a Joropo session at Barbès. This is the monthly fourth-Sunday gathering devoted to joropos, the central rhythm of Venezuelan Llanera folklore and a musical culture shared across the plains of Venezuela and Colombia. The session draws on música llanera’s customary sound world of cuatro, maracas, bass, harp and bandola, with roots in African, Indigenous, criollo and Spanish traditions.
The New York City based Pipiris Nights project is led by Mafer Bandola, a Venezuelan-born instrumentalist, vocalist, composer and community organizer who is recognized for her work on the bandola llanera. She is also a co-founder and performer with the international female musicians’ collective LADAMA, and lead producer of Latínica, an online conference on Latinx identity and equity in music. Pipiris Nights centers the oral traditions and cultural heritage of joropo from the Venezuelan plains, connecting rhythm, memory and migration through music and dance. The project has also included dance workshops and social dances, creating a meeting point for Venezuelan immigrants and the wider New York community.
Barbès offers a compact, warmly worn space where the music feels immediate and close, with a long wooden bar and a back room under a scarlet ceiling that hosts nightly performances. The venue champions a broad spectrum of global sounds, from Balkan brass and klezmer to Afrobeat and experimental jazz, often featuring residencies like the Slavic Soul Party. The audience gathers around small tables or at the bar, sharing drinks crafted with a nod to French spirits, while the music invites attentive listening rather than loud conversation. Shows usually have a suggested donation instead of a cover charge, creating a welcoming environment where the focus is on the artists. The venue’s commitment to accessibility and its role in Brooklyn’s cultural fabric make it a distinctive spot for an evening of richly diverse live music.