El Combo Oscuro “Sol y Tierra” @ Central Machine Works

EL COMBO OSCURO PRESENTS: “Sol y Tierra”

AUSTIN, TEXAS For nearly a full century now, Cumbia’s infectious rhythms have crept out further from Colombia. That intercontinental dissemination has led to a plethora of subgenres, and thanks to Texas’ relatively close proximity to Central and South America, some of those tendrils (most notably ’60s-style Peruvian psychedelic cumbia or “chicha“) have found new roots here in the Lone Star State. Even here, a several hour drive from the US-Mexico border, we’re blessed to have some prolific cumbia acts call Austin their home.

Although many groups had already found their footing before the turn of 2020, there’s an exceptional outfit that emerged out of the darkness of our pandemic era. Austin‘s six-piece, El Combo Oscuro, dropped their debut single “Calavera” right around one year after COVID-19 led to the abrupt cancellation of SXSW (where we usually get an influx of awesome international cumbia acts). Since then they’ve released two EPs (2021’s Que Sonido Tan Rico and 2022’s aptly-titled Cumbia Capital), racked up two Austin Music Awards nominations for “Best Latin Act”, and brought the heat to gatherings like SXSW, Utopiafest, Levitation Fest, Chicha Summit, and Austin Psych Fest.

El Combo Oscuro has recently been inducted into the Austin Music Foundation’s Artist Development Program – Class of 2023 ADP6. By collaborating with The Bubble recording studio and in-house producers Chris “Frenchie” Smith and Einar Pedersen, ADP helps propel some of Austin’s most talented-yet-overlooked musicians closer to the stratosphere of wider awareness and higher streaming numbers. (Courtesy Jack Anderson of KUTX). This collaboration produced the band’s popular single, Despegue, and now the second and final single from the ADP Program Sol y Tierra will be released on August 5, 2023 at Central Machine Works.

To celebrate the release, Central Machine Works will be serving a special plant-based taco coined the "Sol y Tierra"...homemade corn tortilla, jackfruit in ancho-chipotle adobo, red onion and cilantro. Vegan and gluten free. San Antonio’s Luna Tropical will be opening the festivities.

El Combo Oscuro www.elcombooscuro.com

Luna Tropical 7pm https://www.instagram.com/lunatropicalsatx/?hl=en

https://facebook.com/events/s/sol-y-tierra-release-central-m/220836290936679/