Madre Cumbia - Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto con Fruko y Carmelo Torres

Madre Cumbia brings together Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Fruko, and Carmelo Torres for a historic live celebration of Colombian cumbia at Union Stage. The event centers on a collaboration that spans the full evolution of cumbia, from the ancestral sound of gaitas and drums to the accordion traditions of the sabanas and the electric bass that helped redefine tropical music. It is framed as more than a performance or album: it is a meeting between the living roots of Colombian cumbia and the artists who have carried, transformed, and preserved that legacy across generations.

When: Sunday, November 15, 2026.

Venue: Union Stage, 740 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024.

Tickets: Free admission.

Lineup: Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Fruko, and Carmelo Torres.

About: This event celebrates the Madre Cumbia collaboration, highlighting the full arc of cumbia’s journey from ancestral Colombian sounds to modern tropical music. The program features the traditional instrumentation of the gaitas and drums alongside the sabanero accordion and the electric bass, representing both preservation and reinvention of the genre.

Note: The event page presents the description in both English and Spanish, emphasizing the cross-generational and cross-cultural significance of the collaboration.