Rumbatism

Following the sold-out performance of his Rumba Experience in the Hawk’s Well Theatre in July 2024, Felip Carbonell presents the revival of the original concept that brought rumba to the Sligo music scene back 20 years ago.

In the summer of 2005, the 2nd Strandhill Guitar Festival featured the very first collaboration between maestro virtuoso guitarist Mike Nielsen and Felip. They did know of each other but never had exchanged a word -never mind a note-before that day. They let their classical guitars speak instead, and the result was an amazing musical experience that shortly brought them to form a quintet, alongside Eddie McFarlane (guitar), Eddie Lee (bass) and Ken ‘Tonto’ McDonald (percussion). The band’s motto was and still is ‘Everything is Rumbable’ (hence the band’s name), and their repertoire is based on Standard and Latin Jazz meets Bolero and Rumba with a Flamenco feel. Did you ever think you could dance to Miles Davis with a Catalan Rumba beat? You should try it.

For this very special concert celebrating 20 years of rumba in Sligo, Rumbatism will feature an extended line-up including the original quintet plus the incomparable fingers of Eddie Lynch on piano and other surprise guests.

Photograph by Aminah Hughes