Empanadas Ilegales

As part of the Vidéotron Éclatée Series, presented by Vidéotron, the Festi Jazz international de Rimouski is proud to bring you a performance by Empanadas Ilegales.

Formed in 2017 through late-night jam sessions and improvised rooftop concerts, Empanadas Ilegales is a tropical psychedelic collective bringing together musicians with Colombian, Ecuadorian, Argentine, and Canadian roots. Their music is both a tribute and an invention: cumbia meets surf rock, salsa blends with Persian melodies, and folklore collides with free jazz.

With Sancocho Trifásico, their most recent album, the band pushes this hybridity even further, delivering their richest, most soulful, and most daring project to date. Their debut album, Papayón, was recorded live at Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver and highlighted their scenic energy through a vibrant six-piece ensemble. Creepy Mambo followed in 2022, offering a bold nod to classic cumbia. In 2024, the group continued to explore the limits of its universe by recording Creepy Mambo live on the rooftop of the WARRINGTON Art Collective in Vancouver.

Having performed at major events such as Sled Island, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Calgary Folk Fest, SunFest, Mixto Fest, and JUNOFest, the group continues to expand its reach, connecting cultures, sounds, and generations through deeply danceable music. Their sound acts as both a call and a response between hemispheres, opening dance floors beyond cultural boundaries.