TROPICAL VORTEX Presents: A.B.E.L.A
Barbès376 9th St, New York 11215
Tropical Vortex presents A.B.E.L.A, the Asociación de Bateristas Electrónicos de Latinoamerica, at Barbès. The night places the percussion collective within the venue’s long-running Tropical Vortex series, a program of live bands and DJs devoted to tropical music from across Latin America. Resident DJs Sonido Chichadelico and Adrian Is Hungry join the bill, along with special guests. The series moves through cumbia, chicha, guaguancó, mambo, plena and sanjuanitos, alongside both vintage and newer sounds.
A.B.E.L.A is an inclusive, transdisciplinary collective of Latinx percussionists exploring technology in relation to the ancestral rhythms of the American continent. Also known as “El Sindicato,” the group has more than ten rotating members and draws on a Latin American network whose spiritual headquarters include Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Puerto Rico. Its stated aims are equal rights for percussionists worldwide and making audiences dance “until capitalism is destroyed.” Rather than a fixed-band showcase, this is a collective proposition: percussion, electronic exploration and inherited rhythmic traditions meeting in a format built around movement and exchange.
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.