Town festivals · Street parties · Councils
Salsa orchestra for town festivals in Barcelona and across Catalonia
Arturito & La Máquina del Sabor is the salsa orchestra that town councils, festival committees and neighbourhood associations across Catalonia have booked for the dance night of their festa major since 2000. A full nine-piece band, a 90-120 minute dance concert, a repertoire of salsa, son, merengue and bachata, and all the paperwork public administration requires.
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What is included when you book the orchestra for a town festival?
Booking Arturito & La Máquina del Sabor for a town festival includes the full nine-piece band, a 90-120 minute dance concert, set-up and sound check, and complete administrative documentation. If the council has no technical supplier, we can arrange sound and lighting separately.
- Nine musicians on stage: lead and backing vocals, piano, bass, timbales, congas, bongó and bell, trumpet and trombone.
- A 90-120 minute dance concert with one break, or the set format the festival programme requires.
- Classic salsa, Cuban son, timba, merengue, bachata and cumbia, arranged for a town square.
- Technical rider and stage plot sent to the sound company in advance.
- Contract, VAT invoice, liability insurance and musicians' documentation for public administration.
What festival committees appreciate most, in our experience, is not having to chase us for paperwork. We know a council needs the signed contract and a correct invoice to pay, and the sound company needs the rider two weeks before, not the night before. We send everything the moment the date is confirmed.
How many musicians does it take to fill a town square?
For a square or stage with more than 300 people it takes nine musicians: without the horn section and full percussion, salsa does not reach the back of the square. For street parties in small towns, the septet is a cheaper alternative that keeps trumpet and trombone.
Outdoors, sound opens up and gets lost. A salsa orchestra stands on three legs: percussion, bass and piano playing the tumbao, and horns playing the mambos. Remove one and the concert sounds like a covers band. That is why we always recommend the full line-up for the main night. For a Sunday lunchtime vermouth session, a quintet or trio is perfect. Compare the five line-ups.
As Arturito says, "at a town festival we do not play for the people who know how to dance salsa; we play so the whole town dances." That is why there is always merengue and cumbia in the square repertoire.
FAQ
Questions from councils and committees
Do you work with town councils and issue invoices with VAT?
Yes. We have worked with town councils, festival committees and neighbourhood associations since 2000. We issue invoices with itemised VAT, sign contracts and provide public liability insurance and the musicians' employment documentation required by public administration.
Do you need the council to provide sound?
For a main square we recommend working with the festival's sound company, to whom we send our technical rider and stage plot in advance. If there is no supplier we can arrange sound and lighting for mid-sized crowds at an additional cost.
How much stage space does the band need?
The full nine-piece band needs a stage of about 6 by 4 metres; the septet fits in 5 by 3 metres. We also need a 32 A power supply or two independent 16 A circuits near the stage.
What happens if it rains?
If the stage is covered, the concert goes ahead. If it is not and it rains, we stop for electrical safety and reschedule or move to a covered space agreed with the organiser.
How early do councils book?
Councils and committees usually book summer orchestras between January and April. Dates in July, August and early September sell out first, so we recommend booking three to six months ahead.
Get a quote
Shall we book the date of your festival?
Tell us the town, date and schedule. We send a closed quote with VAT, technical rider and council documentation within 48 hours.
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