La Sarita

La Sarita sees the light in the densely populated district of El Agustino in 1997. Formed only by six guys from Lima, Peru’s capital city, it was elected as the best new band of 1998, followed by great reviews of music critics from different media: “In little more than a year, La Sarita has become the most solid and promising project of its kind, not only because its rock-traditional rhythms fusion, but also for its theatrical proposal. This vision has consolidate La Sarita into a wild and radiant show.”
The debut album came in 1999. “Mas Poder” (More Power) takes La Sarita around the country. “La Sarita will begin the new millenium opening new doors in rhythms, lyrics and creativity, always with a fearless critic of our beloved country.”
The year 2000 sends La Sarita into its first international trip. The band is invited to participate in the event “Hombre y Desarrollo” (Man and Development) in Helsinki, Finland: event organized by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The objective of this festival was to show the everyday life of Latin America represented by the cultural and artistic manifestations. That same year La Sarita travels to Bogota, Colombia to play two concerts in the international festival “Rock al Parque” (Rock in the Park). At the time, this festival was considered the most important of its kind in Latin America.
“Danza la Raza” (The Race Dances), La Sarita’s second CD is released in April 2003. During this stage two more musicians, along with two scissors dancers from the highland city of Ayacucho, join the band. Once again, the CD is well received by the critics and the fans. “The world “Fusion” falls short to describe what this group is making with its music. Every song of this new production is an example of its evolution.”
In December of that same year, La Sarita is invited to the V World Cultural Showcase in Salvador Bahia, Brazil; organized by Via Magia cultural organization.
In May 2005 La Sarita travels to Caracas, Venezuela to participate in the festival “Voces, rostros y estampas de los andes” (Voices, faces and legacy of the Andes), promoted by the Venezuelan Ministry of Culture. In December La Sarita represents Peru in the International Book Fair in Guadalajara, Mexico. Peruvian Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa was also in the Peruvian committee.
Ecuador is La Sarita next international stop. In November 2006 the band plays in the festival “Quitu Raymi” in Quito. This event was organized by La Casa de la Culturas Urbanas Puka Yana and Quitu-Raymi permanent committee.
In June 2007 La Sarita returns to Helsinki, Finland, this time invited by the capital’s City Hall. Beside playing in the “World Village” festival, La Sarita also performs in the cities of Turku and Tampere. In that same trip, the band plays three concerts in Switzerland. Schaffhausen, Zurich and Geneva are the stops in this tour, organized by the Cultural Association “Tierra Incógnita”.
In 2008 La Sarita participates in an event organized to commemorate the 473rd anniversary of Peru’s capital city. That same year a new member joins the group. The 11th member belongs to the native Shipibo-Conibo community of Pucallpa, city located in the Peruvian Amazon basin.
After 6 years of hard work, La Sarita releases its 3rd CD “Mamacha Simona” in March 2009. “Ten years after its debut album, and six after Danza la Raza, La Sarita appears renewed and with a highland bread in its basket: Mamacha Simona, its 3rd CD, is definitely its most complete and better produced record.”
In July 2009 La Sarita plays at the International Book Fair in Lima, and in December they visit Ecuador once again. This time La Sarita plays two concerts, one in Quito and the second one in Guayaquil. In 2010 La Sarita keeps touring peruvian cities and is invited to participate in the culinary fair “Mistura”.
In 2011 La Sarita is selected to participate in a City Hall project to bring culture and entertainment to as many people as possible. Project “Cultura Vida” (Live Culture) takes La Sarita to the four corners of the city of Lima. In December, La Sarita is asked to open a show for Calle 13, a Puertorriquean Urban Band, in front of 20,000 people.
During its 13 years, La Sarita has played with bands such as Manu Chao (3 times), Todos Tus Muertos, FFF, Molotov, A.N.I.M.A.L, Los Prisioneros, Aterciopelados, Los Jaivas, Calle 13 and Toto la Momposina.
IDENTIDAD, La Sarita’s 4th album, has just been released on April 4th.