Melbourne's Latin music lovers are about to get a whole day at the beach with killer cumbia, rock en español and enough reggaeton to keep those hips moving until sunset.
St Kilda Latin Festival returns to South Beach Reserve on 7 February for an eight-hour marathon showcasing some of the finest homegrown Latin talent the city has to offer.
The festival brings together an all-local lineup including live bands Sorbo Amplio, La Furia and Melbourne Salsa All Stars, plus a hefty rotation of DJs spinning everything from salsa and bachata to reggaeton and cumbia. Running from 2pm to 10pm, the beachside bash transforms the palm-tree-lined reserve into a Cancun summer party, complete with a margarita garden, Latin food stalls and dance lessons for those still working on their moves.
St Kilda Latin Festival
- South Beach Reserve, St Kilda, 7 February
- 2pm – 10pm
- Tickets from $24.99 (student) / $29.99 (general admission)
Nueva cumbia and rock en español collide
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What sets St Kilda Latin Festival apart from your average summer day out is the depth of musical talent on offer. Rather than importing international acts, the event puts the spotlight firmly on Melbourne’s thriving Latin music community, a scene that’s been quietly building momentum for years.
Among the standouts on the bill are Sorbo Amplio, a 10-piece outfit that specialises in what’s known as nueva cumbia chilena. The band’s name translates roughly to drinking for extended periods without pause, a reference to long Chilean celebrations and late-night fiestas. The genre itself emerged in Chile during the early 2000s, surfacing in mainstream media around 2009 and 2010.
Unlike older cumbia styles, nueva cumbia chilena draws from an eclectic range of influences including ska, salsa, reggae and indigenous Andean music, while lyrically telling stories of urban life rather than the romantic themes of traditional cumbia. Sorbo Amplio channel this sound through a fusion that incorporates rock, ska and hip hop elements alongside their Latin foundations.
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Then there’s La Furia, a Melbourne band that formed in 2021 and has quickly become one of the local scene’s most exciting live acts.
Originally starting as a tribute act covering legends of rock en español, they’ve since evolved to craft original material blending their Latin roots with alternative rock. Their repertoire pays homage to iconic Spanish-language rock acts from across Latin America and Spain, drawing on the legacy of bands like Soda Stereo, Café Tacuba and Molotov. The group has already opened for internationally renowned acts including Colombia’s Aterciopelados and Chile’s Los Prisioneros during their Australian tours, a testament to how quickly they’ve established themselves.
More than just music
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Beyond the main stage, St Kilda Latin Festival offers all the trappings of a proper fiesta. The food stalls cover cuisines from across Latin America, with options spanning Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. A fully licensed beer garden keeps things refreshed with Latin cocktails, and there’s a dedicated area with dance lessons for anyone wanting to brush up on their salsa, bachata or cumbia footwork before hitting the floor.
The DJ lineup runs deep, with selectors including DJ Collectivo Aprieta, DJ Castillo, DJ Chamo, DJ Marz, DJ Jess Brooks, DJ Jesús Guzmán, DJ Guaro and DJ Andrés Guevara all scheduled to keep the energy high across the afternoon and evening. Expect sets covering the full spectrum of Latin dance music, from classic salsa and bachata through to contemporary reggaeton and the latest crossover hits.
For those wanting to keep the party going after the festival wraps at 10pm, there’s an official after party at Loud Mouth on Acland Street running through until 3am, available as a separate ticket add-on.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with St Kilda Latin Festival.
