Tropical, colourful, eclectic and mysterious: the sound of Los Wembler’s de Iquitos clearly reveals their origins in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. The pioneers of cumbia amazónica – a groundbreaking fusion of psychedelic rock, surf, Afro-Latin rhythms, and indigenous melodies – will ignite the dance floor at GROUNDS with their tropical-party-starter-songs!

In the late sixties, Peruvian shoemaker Solomon Sanchez decided to start a band with his five sons. The band played traditional rhythms — but in an entirely new way. That is, with electric, surf-inspired guitars. With this hybrid sound, Los Wembler’s de Iquitos are behind major cumbia peruana hits (also known as chicha), such as “Sonido Amazonico” and “Danza del Petrolero”.

Now, revered as elder statesmen of Latin alternative music and an important cornerstone in the worldwide cumbia revival, they inspire a new generation of artists across the Americas and Europe. After more than 25 years, they finally released new material with the EP ‘Ikaro del Amor’ (2016), which channels the spirit of Amazonian shamanism with a heavier, more hypnotic sound. In 2019, they followed up with the album “Vision del Ayahuasca” and continue to shape the ever-evolving legacy of cumbia, proving that there’s still plenty to discover in their music.