Media Release: The Cuban Brothers (UK) return to Wellington
On Friday the 5th of February, The Cuban Brothers (UK) will make their first live performance in Wellington in five
years at Cuba Street's San Fran venue.
An unstoppable, infectious force of nature, The Cuban Brothers’ unrivalled funk soul review blends sexy, soulful music
with jaw-dropping b-boy action and riotous comedy. From humble beginningsMiguel Mantovani, Archerio Mantovani, Kengo San and Domenicohave built Los Hermanos Cubanos - The Cuban Brothers - into a legendary outfit that continuously sells out shows across the globe.
Mike Keat (Miguel) started The Cuban Brothers after (in his own words) ‘watching dance music disappear up its own arsehole’ in
the mid to late 90s. His love of b-boying, Latin music and character comedy inspired him to create an irreverent
music-driven show to help him showcase his burgeoning talents as a singer, MC and dancer. After enrolling Archie ‘Archerio’ Easton (a former champion b-boy and ex-Prodigy dancer), Kengo ‘Kengo San’ Oshima (a dance student and earnest wrong-man) and most recently Domenico AKA Juan Erection,the four-piece has blurred historic fact and hilarious fiction with the three elements of entertainment – music, comedy
and dancing – journeying on an endless foray into filthy fun and funky action.
Not only the entertainment of choice for Elton John, Richard Branson and Robbie Williams, the band has also supported
James Brown, Chuck Berry, Fatboy Slim, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, and performed with the likes of The Prodigy, Q-Tip,
Chic, Roy Ayers and Jocelyn Brown, as well as touring the world in their own right. Their residency at Rob da Bank’s
celebrated Sunday Best parties led to the band hosting the main stage at Bestival, with their delirious rhythms,
lightning wit, and gentle ribbing of world famous artists, plus a lot of inappropriate touching, endearing them to a
constant stream of new fans. Taking the contagious dynamic of their live show into the studio the band’s debut album ‘Yo
Bonita!’ features guest vocals from the likes of Mica Paris, Omar Kurtis Blow, Jungle Brother Mike Gee, Yolanda Quartey
(Massive Attack) and KT Tunstall.
In the world of cinema Mike has acted in Plan B’s Ill Manors and performed one of the standout songs from Dexter
Fletcher’s Sunshine on Leith, while the band enjoyed a starring turn in Nick Frost’s Cuban Fury. As hosts of the Gumball
Rally for several years, the boys also starred in the seminal movie Gumball 3000 introducing them to millions as the
main comedy element in the movie. Starring with Fatima Whitbread on the BBC’s Let’s Dance for Sport Relief, and high
profile roles in Sky TV’s cult hit Pineapple Dance Studios and the BBC’s visual mixtape, No Hats No Trainers, took them
to a whole new generation, while TV specials for Snowbombing & Bestival, and a plethora of talking heads appearances have kept Los Hermanos ‘on the box’, so to speak.
Future plans involve more comedy, more funk and more film, including the Cuban’s road movie ‘It’s A Long Way’, shot in
Australiain 12 days and 100% improvised in the form of script and action. Already causing plenty of excitement, it
features Mike Keat as yet another alter-ego, Barry Peters, on a pilgrimage to original AC / DC vocalist Bon Scott’s
grave in Freemantle Western Australia.
Local support from special guest DJs.
The Cuba Brothers (UK)
5th February | San Fran, Wellington
Tickets on sale from www.undertheradar.co.nz
Doors open 8pm
Twitter: @cubanbrothers
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thecubanbrothers
Instagram: @thecubanbrothers
Website: www.thecubanbrothers.com
Youtube: www.youtube.com/cubanbrothers