Eliades Ochoa

Friday 24 July 2009 4.45pm Open Air Stage
WOMAD Festival Charlton Park - Open Air Stage
Charlton Park, Malmesbury
Wiltshire
SN16 9DG
womad.org/festivals/charlton-park

“The finest guitarist of his generation.” The Guardian

“Since Eliades Ochoa’s telling contribution to Ry Cooder’s project, their leader, voice and guitarist has deserved a greater platform. The results don’t disappoint.” Mojo 

With his trademark cowboy hat, Eliades Ochoa is one of the most instantly recogniseable figures from the Buena Vista Social Club album and film. Eliades  and his fine band are the custodians of  Chan Chan and the rest of the Cuban guitar-led and conga driven son repertoire including songs like El Cuarto de Tula and El Carretero.

Hailing from the countryside near Santiago in the east of Cuba, Eliades Ochoa’s roots are in guajira (Cuban country music) and his hat and penchant for wearing black have led some to dub him ‘Cuba’s Johnny Cash’.