Official site of Yerba Buena Gardens Festival
Free outdoor performing arts in downtown San Francisco
- This program has passed.
Orquesta Akokán
Sat, Sep 6, 2025, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Free
The glorious sounds of pre-revolutionary Havana turn the Gardens into a Cuban dance party when Orquesta Akokán arrives with the irresistible grooves of mambo, son montuno, guarachas, cha cha cha and boleros. Created by Chulo Records producer and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Plasse, arranger Michael Eckroth, and the great Latin singer-songwriter known as “El Sonero Pregonero del Barrio,” Hector “Papote” Jimenez, Akokán was born on a trip to Havana. With the savvy guidance of Irakere saxophonist César López, they assembled a brilliant cadre of American and Cuban players to celebrate and expand the mid-20th century sounds of Perez Prado, Beny Moré and Machito. Akokán, which means “from the heart” in Yoruban, gained international attention in 2018 when their eponymous Daptone Records release earned a Grammy nomination. The Orquesta has been on fire ever since with an incendiary 21st century take on the Cuban dance music that swept the world.
Pre-show music from KALW DJ Margarita Azucar at 1pm.
Lead sponsor:
