Back in its tenth year La Linea is funkier, punkier, rootsier and spunkier than ever. It’s all about what Latin Music can be, has been and very much is. 

With their incomparable back catalogue and hyperactive technicolour show Kid Creole & The Coconuts at the Barbican promises to be as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. Viva El Mariachi, also at the Barbican, will be an evening of high Latino passion, cathartic sobbing into your cerveza and surprise guests, all dedicated to the cause of mariachi. Salsa Celtica, with fine musicians from north of the border and south of the equator, bring their fiddles, whistles and bongos to the South Bank. Mexican guitarist Morgan Syzmanski’s invigorating Machaca returns to La Linea with some world premieres and a  repertoire ranging from Villa-Lobos to Piazzolla; and Tango Siempre do their thing with special guest Gotan Project’s virtuoso Bandoneon player, Victor Villena. Barcelona’s Amparo Sanchez first appeared at La Linea leading her band Amparanoia and most recently as part of Spanish Bombs. Here she showcases her new project, Tucson Havana, on which she collaborated with Calexico. Kevin Johansen played La Linea previously as support, this time he’s headlining his own Jazz Café show alongside a mouth-accordion playing newspaper cartoonist with an overhead projector as La Linea once again proves that there’s more to Latin music than maracas and salsa dance classes.