Global Roots

Grammy-nominated El David Aguilar is one of the most versatile singer-songwriters to emerge from Mexico’s independent music scene. 

His music draws from Mexican folk traditions, Latin American and Brazilian influences, and American rock, pop and folk music from the 1960s through the 1990s. Aguilar’s poetic lyrics and rich harmonic sensibility have made him a frequent collaborator with artists including Natalia Lafourcade, Jorge Drexler and Mon Laferte. 

Blurring the lines between concert, dance and music performance, Music from the Sole is a vibrant tap and live music ensemble celebrating tap’s roots in the African diaspora. 

Two visionary forces shaping the future of African diasporic music come together in two complementary sets for an evening that honors deep musical lineages while embracing a new global perspective. 

Sona Jobarteh, the first professional female kora virtuoso to emerge from a West African griot dynasty, carries this centuries-old tradition forward through luminous vocals and masterful musicianship. Preserving her ancestral inheritance, she forges a bold humanitarian path into the future. 

Thomas Lauderdale’s globe-trotting “little orchestra” Pink Martini is back with an all-new holiday show! 

Featuring three of the band’s favorite singers and long-time collaborators, Ari Shapiro, Edna Vazquez, and Jimmie Herrod, the Pink Martini All-Stars bring a festive program blending their beloved holiday classics with sparkling new additions. 

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with Mondavi Center favorite, and one of Latin America’s most influential voices, Lila Downs.

Rooted in Oaxaca and shaped between Mexico and the United States, she weaves Mexican tradition with jazz, cumbia, folk, and contemporary rhythms. Her music is both celebration and purpose, turning each concert into a gathering where culture is honored, stories are reclaimed, and audiences are invited to feel, dance, and remember. 

Two-time winners of the Latin Grammy Award for Best Flamenco Album (2022 and 2025), Spain’s Las Migas reimagine flamenco, shaping a sound that is both contemporary and deeply expressive.

In spring 2025, Las Migas released Flamencas, a tribute to the essence and purity of flamenco that further evolves their sound toward a contemporary voice. With more than 20 years together and six studio albums, the group has become one of Spain’s most internationally acclaimed ensembles, performing in more than 50 countries.

Four-time Grammy Award winner Kalani Pe‘a and ukulele virtuoso Taimane unite for a vibrant celebration of Hawaiian artistry. 

Kalani Pe‘a is celebrated for his rich tone, resonant songwriting and dedication to Hawaiian language and culture, while Taimane, a bold and magnetic performer, reimagines the ukulele with commanding technique and striking range.

Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day with a cracking good time in Jackson Hall. 

If you find yourself leaning into the music of Goitse (Go-WIT-cha), it is no coincidence. The Irish quintet’s name means “come here” in Gaelic, and their music has a distinctively beckoning quality. Celebrating 15 years of touring worldwide, they return to the Mondavi Center with their signature blend of original compositions and timeless traditional Irish tunes.  

Camila Fernández was destined to become a musician. 

A powerful songwriter and bandleader, Fernández will feature her compositions as well as holiday favorites, with a cast of folkloric dancers to complete the seasonal celebration.  

Singing since childhood, Fernández attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and experimented with many genres as she began her career. But it was a promise to her grandfather, the legendary Vincente Fernández, that brought her back to her roots in mariachi and Mexican regional music.