Chilean band ILLAPU returns to Australia for tour; Music
telling stories of love, life, justice and social issues...
The promotion was accurate to a T - Listening to Illapu’s
songs is like hearing the whisper of the wind from the Andes.
For those don't know, Illapu means "Lighting
Bolt". There's no doubt that the group has facilitated a lighting bolt or
two in their motherland over the years - especially of the political nature.
Today we had the pleasure to meet and interview Roberto
Márquez Bugueño and Alejandro Vargas at the beautiful Sebel Hotel, Surry Hills,
Sydney.
Alejandro kindly assisted with English translation, while
Roberto was able to provide excellent insight as to what the group was all
about, and what Australian audiences can expect on this tour.
Many fans (and soon fans to be) may be a touch surprised to
learn that the group has been to Australia six times now. This can be explained
by the beautiful sound of their voices, instruments and the positive energy
that resonates. It doesn't appear to matter if an Australian audience
member can understand Chilean or not - as it has been said through the ages of
humanity - music is the universal language.
With the bands considerable 40 years plus experience, they
are able to articulate through their music, the tales of those 40 years of
love, life, justice and social issues - with a good amount of political content
thrown in their for good measure.
1991 was a key year for Illapu where they feel that achieved
considerable success on not only a spiritual level, but also of a commercial
nature, where one of their songs 'Lejos del amor' would spend 46 weeks at
number 1 in the charts.
It is very apparent that this group loves life and loves
their music with deep passion, and is very much looking forward to sharing
their gifts with Australians who love beautiful music.
Tickets are priced from just $89, with some concessions
available, and this represents tremendous value and helps make the opportunity
to experience world class performing artists more accessible than you would
expect.
If you are already a fan - you know how great they are, and
if your a newbie to the group, you can expect to have a wonderful time
experiencing their musical and vocal genius in the flesh.
We thank them for once again visiting our shores and wish
their continues success and happiness on their extraordinary journey.
ILLAPU RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA IN MARCH 2013 FOR THEIR SIXTH
TOUR...
Headlining Womadelaide and performing in Sydney, Melbourne
and Brisbane...
Listening to Illapu’s songs is like hearing the whisper of
the wind from the Andes…as they create music with songs about love, life,
justice and social issues.
ILLAPU was founded in 1971 by four brothers from Antofagasta
in northern Chile. As freedom advocates they became well-known for their
cultivated rendering of Andean folklore and Bolivian rhythms, a fusion that
later developed into the Nueva Canción movement. ILLAPU produce folkloric,
explorative music with songs about love, life, justice and current social
issues. They have.
ILLAPU have played throughout Latin America, Europe,
Australia, Asia, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Olympia Theatre in Paris and the
Sydney Opera House. In March 2013 they return to Australia for their
sixth tour headlining WOMADELAIDE with concerts on both the opening and closing
nights. ILLAPU will visit Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane playing in Sydney for
one night only on Friday 1 March Sydney’s Lyric Theatre.
In 1976 ILLAPU released what was to become a huge radio hit
in both Argentina and Chile, and subsequently rose to fame for their
guitar-based songs featuring strong vocals, pan flutes and enrapturing rhythms.
Exiled from their beloved Chile by the Pinochet
Dictatorship, they lived in France and Mexico until their return in 1988 where
they were cheered by throngs of fans, and performed to over 100,000 people.
Since then, Illapu have continued to produce folkloric explorative music with
songs about love, life and justice and have played all over the world from
Latin America, Europe, Australia, Asia, New York to Paris.
“Their voices are wonderful without exception, with perfect
harmony they give us words of love… these musicians give themselves to the
music with endless happiness”… La Depeche
ILLAPU return to Australia for their sixth tour in March
2013 headlining Womadelaide and performing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
TOUR DATES:
Sydney, Lyric Theatre Friday 1 March
Tickets:
$89 (Concessions available)
Bookings:
Ticketmaster
Melbourne, Dallas Brooks Hall Saturday 2 March
Tickets:
$89 (Concessions available)
Bookings:
Ticketek
Brisbane, Tivoli Theatre Thursday 7
March
Tickets:
$89 (Concessions available)
Bookings:
Ticketek
Womadelaide
Friday 8 to Monday 11 March
Profile...
Illapu are a Chilean folk and andean musical ensemble that
was formed in 1971 in Antofagasta, in northern Chile, by the brothers José
Miguel, Jaime, Andrés and Roberto Márquez Bugueño. A later addition to the
group was Osvaldo Torres. Illapu comes from the Quechua word meaning
"Lightning Bolt". Their music was Andean folk. In 1981, because of
the repression under the Pinochet regime, they were forced into exile - going
first to France and later Mexico City. In 1988, due to the improved political
climate, they returned to Chile. Their 1993 album (En Estos Días), which
contained the hit single "Lejos del Amor", won 7 platinum records.
Profile (in Spanish)...
Illapu es un reconocido grupo chileno de música de raíz
folclórica fundado en 1971 en la ciudad de Antofagasta, Región de Antofagasta.
El nombre Illapu viene del idioma quechua y significa
«relámpago». En sus primeros discos el grupo se caracterizaba por el rescate de
instrumentos, melodías y líricas relacionadas con la cultura andina.
Discography...
Música Andina (1972)
Chungará (1975)
Despedida del pueblo (1976)
Raza Brava (1977)
Canto vivo (1978)
Grito de la raza (1979)
Theatre de la Ville (1980)
El canto de Illapu (1981)
Y es nuestra (1983)
De libertad y amor (1984)
Para seguir viviendo (1986)
Divagaciones (1988)
En vivo: Parque La Bandera (1988)
Vuelvo amor... vuelvo vida (1991)
En estos días (1993)
De sueños y esperanzas (1994)
Sereno (1994 or 95)
Multitudes (1995)
Morena esperanza (1998)
Mementos vividos (2000)
Antología 1971-1982 (2001)
Illapu (2002)
Vivir es mucho mas (2006)
Press Release:
ILLAPU Australian Tour March 2013...
Listening to Illapu’s songs is like hearing the whisper of
the wind from the Andes. The ensemble, founded in 1971 by four brothers from
Antofagasta in northern Chile, became well-known for their cultivated rendering
of Andean folklore and Bolivian rhythms, a fusion that later developed into the
Nueva Canción movement.
In 1976 they released what was to become a huge radio hit in
both Argentina and Chile, and they subsequently rose to fame for their
guitar-based songs featuring strong vocals, pan flutes and enrapturing rhythms.
Exiled form their beloved Chile by the Pinochet
dictatorship, they lived in France and Mexico till their return in 1988 where
they were cheered by throngs of fans, and performed to over 100,000 people.
Since then, Illapu have continued to produce folkloric explorative music with
songs about love, life and justice.
“Their voices are wonderful without exception, with perfect
harmony they give us words of love… these musicians give themselves to the
music with endless happiness”… La Depeche
ILLAPU returns to Australia for their sixth tour in March
2013 headlining Womadelaide and performing in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
Websites
Illapu official website
Illapu tour official website
Womadelaide - WOMAD - The World's Festival - Illapu
Music News Australia