La Papayera
Traditional folk band. A warm cocktail of tropical, African, Latin and indigenous music.
REVIEWS
“I’ve never visited a Colombian dancehall, but I can’t imagine it’s too different to this”
It’s late, it’s hot, it’s crowded and UK-based Colombian band Papayera are cooking up some serious Lain American roots gumbo on stage. I should be worrying about night buses, but I’m lost in the wailing clarinet, powerhouse accordion and rocking cumbia and vallenato rhythms, heavy on the African percussion, energy bouncing from band to audience and back again. I’ve never visited a Colombian dancehall, but I can’t imagine it’s too different to this. Papayera are a full-on Colombian roots music experience. They’ve got the costumes, the stage moves, the energy and barrel-loads of earthy musicianship. Front-woman Angelica Lopez is about as vivacious as vivacious gets and has a rare passion for her music and the culture from which it springs.
fRoots Magazine
“Exotic sounds of the Colombian coasts”
Known for brass-driven rhythms, Papayera are one of Colombian's proudest exports.
Led by singer Angelica Lopez, the band reflects the exotic sounds of their nation's Caribbean coast. This year Carnaval del Pueblo welcomes their return to the main stage for an unforgettable show.
South London Press
Hypnotic pipes, accordion and drums intertwined to produce a ecstatically shrill and abandoned climax.
BBC Radio 3 Stage rounds up the most exciting new artists, Sunday 29th July: La Papayera - BBC Radio 3
London Colombian ex-pats who rock traditional instruments
and costumes along with their funking cumbia folk grooves
