Afropop Worldwide

The Latin Alternative Music Conference takes New York this week, bringing with it five days of music, art, panels, and exhibits spread all over the city. The conference kicked off Tuesday in the Bronx with a free showcase at Crotona Park featuring Joell Ortiz, RVSB, and a DJ battle between DJ Raff and DJ Bitman. The conference moves south this afternoon when The Pinker Tones take the stage at El Museo del Barrio. This one’s for the families- The Pinker Tones are joined by Miguel Gallardo, who collaborated with them on their children’s book, “Rolf y Flor”. There’ll be gallery activities, arts and crafts, and lots of dancing. But things will really heat up later tonight when Fat Joe, Cuarto Poder, and Los Rakas hit the stage at Central Park for Summerstage. That’s gunna be a party you won’t want to miss. Thursday’s when the exhibits and panels really start going. Ruben Blades sits down with Gabriel Abaroa from The Latin Recording Academy for an in depth discussion on the music industry. That event is sure to be packed, so smart money’s on getting their early for a prime seat. Later in the day Bandzoogle’s DIY 2.0 panel takes over the New Yorker Hotel, featuring a huge roster of musicians and industry insiders including Carlina Arenas of BMI, Kickstarter’s Kendel Ratley, and Carla Morrison. Morrison takes the stage later in the day for the LAMC Acoustic Showcase. Also on the bill are Astro, Torreblanca, and Ulises Hadjis. The night’s rounded out with a Summerstage concert in Central Park featuring Lila Downs, Natalia Clavier, Pamela Rodriguez, and DJ Raul Campos and a night of music and film at Marcus Garvey Park that includes a screening of “Fania All Stars Live in Africa” and a performance from Elastic Bond. Friday will be just as packed, with panels and discussions on the more technical aspects of the music industry, like monetizing social media presences, licensing recordings, and the economics of touring in the digital era. Hot performances include the LAMC Spoken Word & Poetry Night at La Casa Azul bookstore, the LAMC Celebrate Brooklyn Showcas featuring Bostich and Fussible, The Mexican Institute of Sound, and Mariachi Flor de Toloache, and the LAMC Bronx Showcase at Crotona Park with performances by WAR and DJ Afro. Things wrap up Saturday with a day packed full of live music. Julieta Venegas, Carla Morrison and Alex Anwandter hit the stage at Central Park for a joint offering from LAMC and Summerstage. The party rolls back over to La Casa Azul for a second night, with live art from LadyKFever and Elizabeth Rossi and music by DJ Ren. LAMC officially comes to a close with a screening of “From Mambo to Hip Hop: A South Bronx Tale” and a performance by The Ghetto Brothers at Crotona Park. That might seem like a whole lot of goings ons, but that’s not even the full schedule! You can find a listing of all of the events and more at LatinAlternative.com. This event is huge and brings a ton of culture to the city, so check the calendar and go get yourself a piece of all the knowledge, dancing, and fun times that LAMC brings with it.