LAS RUBIAS DEL NORTE
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Las Rubias del Norte bring a six-piece band to Barbès: Allyssa Lamb on vocals and keyboards, Emily Hurst on vocals, Taylor Bregren-Chrisman on bass, Olivier Conan on cuatro, Greg Stare on percussion and Giancarlo Vulcano on guitar. Their set reimagines an imagined musical past, mixing Peruvian waltzes, Andean huaynos and Cuban guajiras with French opera, cowboy tunes and Bollywood classics. The evening can also draw from Ziguala, their attempt to imagine a pop record shaped by the global Latin currents prevalent until the early 1960s, with possible turns through Sicilian song, Kurt Weill and yé-yé.
The group has deep Barbès roots: a venue account calls them the first band ever to play there, in 2002. The Brooklyn Rail describes Las Rubias del Norte as a self-described “gringo” band blending “Latin American folk songs, cowboy songs, and a few French café tunes,” led by singers Emily Hurst and Alyssa Lamb. Earlier coverage identified musicians from the U.S., France and Colombia behind those voices. Their arrangements use classical harmonies over Latin rhythms, and The New Yorker called the results “elegant, finely wrought Latin-influenced songs,” adding that the band compresses “big-band compositions into sparkling gems.”
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.