Back in 1997, when the first Buena Vista Social Club album was released, no one could have imagined that this Grammy-winning record would, a quarter of a century later, with over eight million copies sold, be listed in the Guinness World Records as the best-selling world music album of all time!

What the late Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, and Rubén González created—alongside the still-active 95-year-old Omara Portuondo (who performed at Festival Lent in 2008)—was an extraordinary musical phenomenon. Discovered by producer and American guitarist Ry Cooder, guided musically by Juan De Marcos González (who performed at Festival Lent in 2018), and propelled by the documentary film of German director Wim Wenders, their music exceeded even the wildest expectations. Cuban music, absent from the global scene for decades, made a triumphant return to concert halls, festival stages, and music charts, sparking an unprecedented revival of Latin American music.

Completely unexpectedly, their open-air concerts drew crowds as large as those for U2, Paul McCartney, or Radiohead. Festival Lent has deep international ties, allowing us to share a true anecdote: before a London concert, the legendary singer Ibrahim Ferrer humbly asked, "Did anyone show up?"—only to step onto the stage and perform for no less than 150,000 fans!

But this is only the historical prelude to the lineup awaiting you at Festival Lent 2025: The Sons of Buena Vista® are nothing less than the legacy of Buena Vista Social Club® passed on to a new generation of world-class musicians. These artists grew up alongside the old masters of Cuban music, actively shaping its evolution before and after the revolution sparked by Buena Vista Social Club®.

It’s important to understand that the hyperactive, Grammy-winning singer Mario “Mayito” Rivera, fittingly called the Cuban Mick Jagger, is a globally recognized ambassador of Cuban music. A versatile and elegant performer, Rivera was a longtime member of the supergroup Los Van Van and collaborated with the biggest names in Cuban music, such as Isaac Delgado and Alberto Álvarez, before joining The Sons of Buena Vista®.

Singer William Borrego Rodríguez, founder of El Cabildo del Son, has toured the world as a lead vocalist alongside Cuban legends like Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés.

"El Nene" (real name Pedro Lugo Martínez) captivates audiences with his incredibly powerful and melancholic voice. On stage, he embodies a younger version of the legendary Ibrahim Ferrer (Buena Vista Social Club®), to whom he bears a striking resemblance—not only visually but also in the authenticity of his Son Cubano singing. So convincing was his performance that, with the group Los Jóvenes del Son, he even won a Latin Grammy!

With a lineup like this, words are unnecessary. Just let yourself be carried away by the spirit of one of the most enigmatic islands on Earth—its rich musical history, its vibrant present, and its eternal themes of hope, longing, love, passion, and joy, as only Cuba can express. And one thing is for sure: the party is guaranteed!

Tickets:

• €20 standing (until June 19) / €25 standing (from June 20)
• Students & pupils: €5 discount per ticket