Cumbia

Less Toches, crowned Grand Laureate of the 2024 Syli d'Or de la Musique du Monde and the MUZ-Musiques Métissées, is a quintet rooted in traditional cumbia. The band features musicians from Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, and Argentina, where cumbia has deeply embedded itself in the cultural fabric.

With instruments like the accordion, guacharaca, bass, and Afro-Colombian percussion, Less Toches draws on the rhythmic richness of cumbia to create a fresh expression of life’s celebration through music. They perform classic cumbia with Caribbean Colombian drum ensembles, infusing their performances with inspiration that transforms into original lyrics. These songs tell stories of daily life, local festivals, and the untold histories of migrants, who build new traditions in their journeys.

The band’s universe evokes a familial gathering, an intimate atmosphere where the audience becomes an integral part of the narrative, participating through dance and collective singing. Their performances blend cumbia with genres like bolero, vallenato, and even French chanson, creating a joyful and subtle fusion that transcends musical boundaries.