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Norfolk Latin Fest Back with Top Acts
Nine-time Grammy Winner Eddie Palmieri and La Perfecta II headline the eighth annual AT&T Norfolk Latino Music Festival. Norfolk Festevents Ltd. expects a crowd of 5,000 in Town Point Park for the July 12 event. Performances begin at 5 p.m. and festivities close at 10 p.m. Admission to the family friendly event is free and open to the public. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel affirmed in a June 25 article that “Mambo King Palmieri, 72, hasn’t lost a beat.” Known for his unconventional sound and exceptional piano playing, Palmieri was born in Spanish Harlem, the son of Puerto Rican immigrants. He was a key player in the 1970s salsa revival in New York City and is known for hits including “Bilongo” and “Vamanos Pal Monte.” More recently, he has focused on Latin Jazz recordings, clinching his ninth Grammy in 2007 for “The Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project: Simpático.” The Latino Music Festival also features regional artists. Latin Jazz Conspiracy will kick off the evening performances, followed by Esencia. Palmieri is expected to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Artistic Director Carlos Munoz and Festevents promise plentiful dance space on what they call the largest outdoor dance floor in Hampton Roads. Instructors from the Mambo Room Latin Dance Studio will offer salsa dance workshops for the whole family. Lawn chairs and picnic blankets are welcome for those who wish to take a break from dancing. Waterside Drive’s Town Point Park is within walking distance of metered parking and parking garages on the downtown Norfolk Waterfront adjacent to the Waterside Festival Marketplace. |
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By Caroline Stauffer
