Courtesy of Yeison Landero
Photo courtesy of
Alan Nart
This July, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s City Stages concert series returns to Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood for two unforgettable Wednesday evenings filled with free, outdoor world music performances. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Transformer Station,1460 West 29th Street, City Stages transforms Church Avenue into a block party of sound, rhythm and cultural connection.
This year’s international lineup features two acts, both new to Cleveland: Yeison Landero from Colombia on July 9, and Las Karamba with members from Spain and Latin America on July 23. Both concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so don’t forget your lawn chairs or your dancing shoes.
City Stages Overview
City Stages is Cleveland Museum of Art’s lively outdoor music series held in front of the Transformer Station in Hingetown. Since its launch in 2013, it has hosted 35 concerts. The upcoming shows bring the total to 37. Gabe Pollack, the director of Performing Arts at the Cleveland Museum of Arts, describes the events as “huge dance parties” that energize the neighborhood.
City Stages events are presented by the Museum with help from rotating sponsors. This year’s concerts are supported by Market Garden Brewery, Ohio City Incorporated, and The Cleveland Foundation. Food is available to purchase from Puente’s Tijuana Tacos. CMA’s mobile art studio van, Studio Go, will also offer family activities.
Pollack said part of the series’ charm is the introduction to Cleveland of international acts, often booked a year out. Over the years music lovers have taken a shine to these events and trust that “even if they don’t know the band, it’s going to be something special.”
Wednesday, July 9 — Yeison Landero (Colombia)
On July 9, Cleveland will vibrate to the rhythms of Colombia’s Caribbean coast as Yeison Landero, the “Heir of Cumbia,” takes the stage at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s City Stages concert series. This performance marks Landero’s Cleveland debut, and it promises to be more than just a show — it’s a cultural celebration, a link to a living tradition and an irresistible invitation to dance.
Hailing from San Jacinto, Bolívar, Yeison Landero is more than a musician; he is the grandson of the legendary Andrés Landero, known as the “King of Cumbia.” Cumbia is a style of Latin music that originated in Colombia and became popular throughout South America, Central America and the United States. In the 1950s, Andrés taught himself accordion and adapted the harmony and melody of the “gaitas” (indigenous flutes) to establish a new style of cumbia which quickly spread across the Americas.
From the age of eight Yeison learned to play the accordion — the soul of traditional Colombian Cumbia. Now, decades later, he carries his family’s legacy to global audiences, bringing with him the music, stories and spirit of the Montes de María, a region rich in cumbian folklore and rhythm.
At City Stages, Landero will present a vibrant set featuring Cumbia Sabanera (from the savannah), Música Campesina (country folk music), and original compositions that fuse deep-rooted tradition with contemporary energy. It’s music that speaks of the land, of ancestral memory, and of joy — the kind that moves both heart and feet. “Cumbia is born from the drum, the heart, and the body,” Landero says. “It’s a rhythm that gets under your skin, even for those hearing it for the first time.”
Joining him on stage is a powerhouse ensemble of Colombian musicians, each one a virtuoso in their own right:
• Javier Isaías Guerra Alvis, master of the guacharaca (percussion), uncle of Yeison Landero and son of Andrés Landero, brings the rhythm of the mountain.
• Daniel José Movilla Yepes commands the drums with the soul of his ancestors.
• Jaminton Javier Cerpa Villamizar flows on bass like an underground river grounding the groove.
• Jeiver José Rodríguez Villalba, a former member of Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, voices the wind through the gaita flute.
• Aníbal Hernández, from Cartagena, blends tradition and innovation with Afro-Caribbean beats.
• Andrés Ramírez, a Mexican percussionist based in New Mexico, connects Cumbia’s pulse to a broader diaspora.
While this is Landero’s first performance in Cleveland, he’s no stranger to international stages, having performed at the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl and across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. No matter where he goes, his mission is clear: “To plant Cumbia in places it has never been heard before, and to prove that this music… has the power to connect hearts.”
Expect more than a concert on July 9 — expect a fiesta. Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Cumbia or discovering it for the first time, this is a chance to experience a music that unites generations, defies borders, and fills the air with history, rhythm, and joy. Come ready to feel, dance, and celebrate a living tradition.
Wednesday, July 23 — Las Karamba
Mariana Andino, booking agent for Las Karamba, shared insights about this dynamic, all-female musical group set to perform on July 23 — their debut appearance in both Cleveland and the U.S.
Las Karamba is a multicultural ensemble founded in Barcelona in 2019, and consists of six members:
- Ahyvin Bruno (vocals, güiro)
- Ahylin Bruno (congas, backing vocals)
- Liviet Ojeda (bass, backing vocals)
- Natasha Arizu (keyboard, backing vocals)
- Rita Baulida (timbales)
- Sheila del Bosque (flute)
With roots in Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina and Catalonia, they fuse classic Cuban genres such as son, cha-cha-cha, salsa and Cuban timba, with elements of rap and urban music.
Their most recent album, “Te lo digo cantando,” features nine tracks intended to inspire and uplift, encouraging listeners to dance or sing along with joy.
“Lyrically, their songs often carry a socially conscious and feminist perspective, reflecting their experiences as women and migrants. They sing about their lives, dreams, and the issues they care about, adding depth and meaning to their music,” said Andino. “On July 23 people…won’t be able to stop dancing and celebrating life with us,”
City Stages concerts are free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Lutheran Hospital lot at West 28th Street and Franklin Boulevard.
Rain Plan - In case of bad weather, concerts will move indoors to the museum’s atrium. Either way, the shows will go on.
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