Festival and Travel Planner 2025

Yeah, I asked what you meant. I know people (including myself) mix up these things. Any specific songs you have in mind?
 
Yeah, I asked what you meant. I know people (including myself) mix up these things. Any specific songs you have in mind?

Oh that’s my mistake. I didn’t have any song in mind. My comment was that for a mambo event (or really any large salsa event) they played way too much charanga.
 
Oh that’s my mistake. I didn’t have any song in mind. My comment was that for a mambo event (or really any large salsa event) they played way too much charanga.
Just curious. At a "mambo" event what kind of music do you prefer to dance to? And, is there a particular thing you don't like about charanga?
 
Just curious. At a "mambo" event what kind of music do you prefer to dance to? And, is there a particular thing you don't like about charanga?

I don't hate charanga at all. I don't mind a variety of music.

Here are some charanga examples that were played:

- Julio el Gitano by Charanga America
- Chamina y Ven by Charange Masters
- Aqui Hay Un Hombre Gonzando by Charanga de la 4
 
I don't hate charanga at all. I don't mind a variety of music.

Here are some charanga examples that were played:

- Julio el Gitano by Charanga America
- Chamina y Ven by Charange Masters
- Aqui Hay Un Hombre Gonzando by Charanga de la 4

I never thought about this before, but "charanga" as "son-based music played by a charanga" does make sense as a separate term from pachanga. First might be pachanga, particularly towards the end, but the others rather aren't.
 
I don't hate charanga at all. I don't mind a variety of music.

Here are some charanga examples that were played:

- Julio el Gitano by Charanga America
- Chamina y Ven by Charange Masters
- Aqui Hay Un Hombre Gonzando by Charanga de la 4
Funny but 1 and 3 have been favourite tracks of mine for many years. (Favourite artists too.) I've never heard either played anywhere.
 
I never thought about this before, but "charanga" as "son-based music played by a charanga" does make sense as a separate term from pachanga. First might be pachanga, particularly towards the end, but the others rather aren't.
I think in 70s NY a number of charanga bands were very popular, whereas the pachanga rhythm and dance were not popular at all in the 70s. However the charangas in the early 60s played mostly pachangas, because pachanga was so big in that era.
 
Just curious. At a "mambo" event what kind of music do you prefer to dance to? And, is there a particular thing you don't like about charanga?
If mambo event means an event for on 2 dancers then I would expect some charangas, but hopefully not many pachangas, and also lots of other salsa dura and mambo era music. Preferably lots of variety, in terms of rhythms, tempi and orchestrations.
 
If mambo event means an event for on 2 dancers then I would expect some charangas, but hopefully not many pachangas, and also lots of other salsa dura and mambo era music. Preferably lots of variety, in terms of rhythms, tempi and orchestrations.

If the event has 4 or more DJs and one plays a couple of charangas and chachas, the others will copy if they think that DJ got a positive response and then a couple of charangas can turn into 6.
 
If the event has 4 or more DJs and one plays a couple of charangas and chachas, the others will copy if they think that DJ got a positive response and then a couple of charangas can turn into 6.
6 during the course of a night is not many. Whereas 6 in 1 hour is a lot.
 
6 during the course of a night is not many. Whereas 6 in 1 hour is a lot.

I think for some people in Europe it is. Likewise, I've heard people complain about chachas and there are definitely follows that will say they aren't good at it or don't really dance to it. It they hear 6, they may not be happy about it. I'll also add that at these events you also don't hear many latin jazzy type songs.
 
I personally wouldn't have a problem with this music selection.
The DJs at thebdamcehousevents are overall very good for the Euro dance scene. Dimitri, Martina and Anael usually play good sets for my tastes.

My local scene plays the same music all the time because DJs don't change their playlist all that much and locals don't want to hear things they're unfamiliar with, so when I go to a festival, I want to be bombarded with the good stuff.
 
Last edited:
I don't hate charanga at all. I don't mind a variety of music.

Here are some charanga examples that were played:

- Julio el Gitano by Charanga America
- Chamina y Ven by Charange Masters
- Aqui Hay Un Hombre Gonzando by Charanga de la 4
I actually only remember one set where that was the case and it got a little too repetitive for my liking as well (though I generally really enjoy this type of music and like all three examples you listed very much - adding Julio el Gitano to a playlist as I am writing this), I think that was on Saturday, if I'm not mistaken. But otherwise it wasn't that much in my perception, tbh. But then again, I haven't really spent a whole lot of time at the parties to begin with, so I might have missed the really 'bad' parts :-D
UPDATE: just discovered "Conquista Mayor" thanks to youtube's autoplay, so thanks for that! Absolutely loving it :D
 
I actually only remember one set where that was the case and it got a little too repetitive for my liking as well (though I generally really enjoy this type of music and like all three examples you listed very much - adding Julio el Gitano to a playlist as I am writing this), I think that was on Saturday, if I'm not mistaken. But otherwise it wasn't that much in my perception, tbh. But then again, I haven't really spent a whole lot of time at the parties to begin with, so I might have missed the really 'bad' parts :-D

I definitely remember Saturday because someone else made a comment to me. I believe there was an hour or 2 Sunday evening as well. I think that’s when I was getting a bit annoyed.

UPDATE: just discovered "Conquista Mayor" thanks to youtube's autoplay, so thanks for that! Absolutely loving it :D
I actually like the songs I listed which is why I remember them.
 
I think for some people in Europe it is. Likewise, I've heard people complain about chachas and there are definitely follows that will say they aren't good at it or don't really dance to it.

That’s true in the USA too. Chachas clear up the floor. Half the followers ime are reluctant to dance to it. My guess is half the leaders too sit it out.

When I have asked DJs why they didn’t play more chachas, most cited reason is lack of people who will dance.

2 chachas an hour isn’t lot.

 
He used to. Then he went off the rails last couple of festivals I heard him play post Covid. I even hinted to him that he wasn’t as good as before. Hopefully he has got back on track.

I'm not sure which events you were at when he was DJ'ing (pre 2020?), but I didn't have a problem with him in the last 5-6 events he's played at. He's also come to our local festival every year since 2000 and I didn't notice a drop off in quality. Maybe Covid rejuvenated him.
 
I'm back from Rovinj!
It was great and the Cuban room was NOT lead heavy
On the way home I took a shared transportation in a Van to Venice with some hardcore On2 salseros and when we arrived at the Italian border the customs stopped us asking us to wait in the van while they've been checking our passports. It took a very long time and we were confused why they needed so much time to process 6 passports and 1 DMV document, are they drinking coffee? Not unsurprising for Italian public servants :rofl:
And then one guy said "they are looking for kizombies!" :rofl:
 
Back
Top