International music city the Hague celebrates its diversity. Musicon and Stichting Popdistrict present the nineteenth edition of the Summertime Festival on the Grote Markt in the Hague on 16, 17 and 18 July. Entry is free!
Gerardo Rosales presents Gerardo Rosales con Trombones, an international salsa ensemble built around fiery trombone arrangements, powerful percussion and classic Caribbean rhythms. Led by the Venezuelan percussionist and producer, the group brings together musicians from Cuba, Spain, the Netherlands, Curaçao, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Venezuela, creating a dynamic line-up. Their repertoire is performed with high-energy grooves, layered percussion and driving brass sections designed for the dance floor.
Joggo has been an established presence within the reggae scene for more than seventeen years, known for his warm vocal sound, conscious songwriting and roots-driven approach. He gained international attention in 2008 with the mixtape Beware, while the title track on Bobby Konders’ Kingdom Riddim reached the #2 position in the official German reggae charts and helped introduce his music to a wider audience. Through songs such as “Love You More,” “See It In Your Eyes,” “Love Is” and “Roots Ites,” Joggo built a reputation for combining melodic reggae with themes of love, spirituality and awareness.
Grupo Los Melos is an international eight-piece salsa formation rooted in the tradition of salsa dura, the raw and deeply danceable style that emerged in 1960s and 70s New York and the Bronx. Bringing together musicians from Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany, the band functions as a true cultural melting pot while remaining firmly connected to classic Colombian salsa traditions. Bass, congas and vocals form the driving force, supported by layered tumbaos from piano, bongos and timbales, and a powerful trombone section. Led vocally by Nando Vanin, the band combines improvisational soneos with tight arrangements and high-energy rhythms designed for both dancers and listeners. Their debut album A Los Melómanos features reinterpretations of classic salsa pieces, including “Vámonos de Rumba,” which entered Medellín’s Latinastereo charts.The album reflects the band’s international character and deep respect for salsa heritage.
Cuban-born artist Evelyn Dupuy has been based in the Netherlands for more than a decade. She built a live reputation through performances that combine Afro-Latin rhythms with contemporary influences and a strong cultural identity. Performing since a young age, Evelyn brings together traditional Caribbean roots, rhythmic percussion and vibrant vocal expression while actively advocating for diversity and female representation within the music industry. Over the past ten years, she has appeared at major festivals and venues including Formula 1 events, Het Concertgebouw, Melkweg and TivoliVredenburg. Her profile was further highlighted through her appearance as “The Latin Voice” on The Voice of Holland. Alongside collaborations with artists such as Cimafunk and Chuchito Valdés, she continues to bring energetic and authentic Caribbean sounds to audiences across Europe.
Jabuticaba is a five-piece band that transforms Brazilian musical traditions into an energetic and feel-good live experience. The group combines folkloric influences, original compositions and recognizable grooves with the catchy spirit of 1980s music. Their sound blends bass guitar, accordion, guitar, clarinet, trombone, drums, percussion and three-part vocals into vibrant arrangements full of rhythm and warmth. Over the past two years, Jabuticaba has brought its unmistakable Brazilian atmosphere to stages across the Netherlands, creating performances driven by saudade, celebration and a shared love for Brazilian culture. Tropical rhythms, layered instrumentation and danceable melodies shape a live identity that moves between festive energy and nostalgic emotion. Each performance invites audiences into a colorful musical landscape inspired by beaches, jungle nights and communal dance culture, capturing both the joy and spirit of Brazil through an accessible and uplifting sound.
The American mambo explosion began in the 1940s, straight from the legendary Palladium Ballroom in New York - the place to be, where salsa icons like Tito Puente and Machito set the dance floor on fire.
Reyes Del Mambo pays tribute to that fiery era with a hard-swinging, high-energy Latin big band packed with top-tier musicians and fresh, vibrant talent from the Dutch Latin scene.
Irresistible, bold, and refreshingly new - Reyes Del Mambo is already one of the coolest Latin big bands around, and they're about to blow the roof off the Summertime
Koló is an interactive family performance that invites young audiences into a vibrant world of rhythm, movement and collective music-making. Blending the format of a workshop and a live show, Koló combines boomwhackers, percussion, drums, body percussion and group singing. The title refers to the Papiamentu word for “colour,” reflecting the celebration of creativity, sound and connection. Inspired by the idea that music brings colour to everyday life, Designed specifically for young audiences, Koló creates an accessible introduction to rhythm and collaboration through an immersive and highly physical musical experience.
Tango Extremo is a Dutch ensemble founded in 2003 by violinist Tanya Schaap, who continues to serve as the artistic driving force behind the group. With a distinctive and versatile repertoire, the ensemble bridges European and South American folklore, classical music, jazz and Brazilian influences, all filtered through expressive tango nuevo. Over the years, Tango Extremo has developed a strong artistic focus on the music of the Río de la Plata region, combining traditional tango with innovative crossovers. Tango Extremo has performed across major and smaller stages in the Netherlands and has built an international presence through extensive touring across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Notably, Tango Extremo appeared as the only non-Argentine ensemble at the prestigious Buenos Aires Tango Festival. The current lineup features violin, soprano saxophone, accordion, piano and double bass, creating a rich acoustic palette shaped by improvisation, virtuosity and stylistic diversity.
Members
Tanya Schaap – viool Ben van den Dungen – sopraansaxofoon Hans van der Maas – accordeon Mihan Hong – piano Marijn van der Ven – contrabas
Son Cinco brings together five musicians who have each built a reputation within the international Latin, jazz, and world music scene. The band combines the virtuosity of pianist and arranger Thomas Böttcher with the authentic Cuban and Afro-Cuban vocal traditions of Maaike van Zetten. Trombonist, arranger, and performer May Peters adds a rich Caribbean perspective shaped by years of experience in Puerto Rico, Curaçao, and on stages around the world. Saxophonist Adinda Meertins contributes her Grammy-winning background in Colombian Latin pop and contemporary jazz. Drawing from their diverse musical roots, the musicians of Son Cinco create a warm, energetic, and sophisticated sound in which Cuban music, salsa, Latin jazz, and Caribbean influences come together naturally. Son Cinco delivers captivating performances filled with rhythm, virtuosity, and musical expression.
Plenomba is an Afro-Puerto Rican dance and concert ensemble founded by Puerto Rican bassist and composer Leslie López. Rooted in the traditions of Plena and Bomba, the group explores two of Puerto Rico’s most influential musical forms through a repertoire of primarily original compositions alongside reimagined traditional songs. The music combines powerful percussion, bass-driven grooves, piano, vocals, trumpet and layered Afro-Caribbean rhythms, creating performances that are equally suited to dancing and attentive listening. Bringing together internationally experienced musicians with backgrounds in Afro-Cuban, Afro-Puerto Rican, Afro-Caribbean and salsa traditions, Plenomba presents these rich musical legacies through a contemporary ensemble sound that remains deeply connected to their historical roots.
Members
Leslie López – bass/voc Nils Fischer – percussion Marc Bischoff – piano/voc Oscar ‘Chucky’ Cordero – trumper/voc Tycho Burgerhoff – percussion Siegfried Hart – drums
Bigi Yari is led by Surinamese flautist, composer and ethnomusicologist Ronald Snijders. Winner of the Boy Edgar Prize 2022 and widely recognised for his distinctive, Afro-Caribbean-rooted sound. Born in 1951 in Suriname, Snijders has built a prolific career spanning more than 60 releases and extensive international touring across Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. His music blends world jazz, funk and fusion with kaseko influences, shaped by a fluid, chameleon-like approach to style and improvisation. Praised by Chick Corea as “a great flautist and excellent composer” Snijders has collaborated with artists and ensembles such as Willem Breuker, Theo Loevendie, Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Arp Frique and many others. For his Bigi Yari Concert, he leads a dynamic ensemble featuring flute, saxophones, guitar, keys, bass, drums, kawina and special guest vocals, delivering a rich and rhythm-driven live experience rooted in Afro-Caribbean tradition and contemporary jazz exploration.
Members
Ronald Snijders - fluit Franklin Caesar - saxo en basklarinet Robby Alberga - gitaar Elizabeth Fadel - toetsen Randy Winterdal - bas Walther Eddy Muringen - drums Giovanni Essed - kawina Special guest: Ed Rust- zang
The musicians of The Brazilian Samba Machine come from different parts of Brazil: young men who innovate, but remain within the tradition of the country's enchanting rhythms and melodies.
