PORTLAND — Mayo Street Arts welcomes the lively sounds and festive spirit of Latin America with Sol y Canto’s holiday parranda on Friday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.). This 90-minute performance, including intermission, offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience the joyous Puerto Rican tradition of the asalto navideño, or “Christmas Assault”, where guests drop by unannounced to create an instant holiday celebration. Tickets are available for $20 in advance, $23 at the door, and $30 for preferred seating, with pay-what-you-can options.
During this spirited event, Rosi and Brian Amador, along with other members of Sol y Canto and special guests, will invite audiences to sing and dance along to holiday classics from Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the United States. The group will teach the words to ensure everyone can participate in the festive fun, evoking the warmth, humor, and communal joy of holiday celebrations.
Led by Puerto Rican/Argentine singer and percussionist Rosi Amador and New Mexican guitarist, singer, and composer Brian Amador, Sol y Canto has earned international acclaim for making Pan-Latin music accessible to audiences of all ages and languages. With Rosi’s crystalline voice and Brian’s inventive guitar work, the ensemble combines poetic lyrics with dynamic rhythms, vocal improvisation, and lush musical arrangements that range from contemporary Latin tunes to traditional classics. Their performances often feature guest virtuosos from Latin America, the U.S., and Spain, creating a rich, expansive sound that captivates audiences. Since 1994, Sol y Canto has performed at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and the Museo de Arte in Puerto Rico, earning praise from the Boston Globe as “sublime ambassadors of the Pan-Latin tradition.”
This festive holiday celebration reflects Mayo Street Arts’ ongoing commitment to showcasing traditional cultural events, connecting the community with the music, customs, and joyful spirit of global traditions.
For ticket information visit the event page here.
Mayo Street Arts is a welcoming community arts center in the heart of Portland’s Kennedy Park neighborhood. The organization’s building serves as a performance venue, gallery and gathering space, and offers affordable studios and rehearsal space for artists. Mayo Street Arts’ programming embraces variety, with a particular focus on puppetry and folk music and dance.
Mayo Street Arts does not turn anyone away from its events for lack of funds; please contact the organization at 207-879-4629 or [email protected] for information on their pay-what-you-can admission policy. For more information and tickets, visit www.mayostreetarts.org.
