Los Camaradas - PAYF Dance Night - Headingley Parish Hall

On what turned out to be an emotional, sweaty, and happy night. Los Camaradas performed their third PAYF (Pay As You Feel) evening of Big Band Latin American music. Arriving on an unusually warm spring evening, the high temperature only helped to increase the latin feel.

Being probably as near as you can get to the real thing in the UK, with 16 band members taking the stage for the evening. It is always, two forty-five minute sets running through music from across the many countries of South America.

Barbara and Ana-Luisa as always provide the vocals, stories and accidental jokes for the evening whilst what seems to be a growing army of keen dancers fill the dance-floor, providing all levels of guidance, smiles and some incredible moves throughout the evening.

With a sweltering temperature in the room, it would have been easy to feel that you were in a “sala de baile” in the middle of Chile or Cuba rather than a Leeds Church Hall but we can all dream.

The band started the first set with “Sobre Las Olhas” and ran through many of their favourite tunes, including “Che Che Cole” and “Mi Tierra” as the temperature both on and off the stage kept climbing.

After a very rapid 45 minutes, the first set came to an end, it was announced that Martin, one of the original members of the band, who had been playing congas with Los Camaradas for over 25 years, was emigrating to Australia and this was his last show. There was a presentation and a tearful speech as the band remembered all current and a number of previous members who were no longer with us.

As an additional blow, it was also Molly, the flautist’s last performance too, as she was moving due to career development. Two talented musicians who will be sorely missed by the band.

As we moved into the second set, the temperature continued to climb and the dancers continued to dance. There was no loss of enthusiasm, or smiles with many more dance moves on show.

The band continued with more of their popular songs like “Llora Timbero” and “La Vida Ses Un Carnival” as well as practicing some new additions to their set-list. As the evening drew to a close with “Yumbambe” the room was again filled with smiles and applause. With a final goodbye from Martin, the night was over until the next time.