Timba Británica & Rueda Libre present THE CUBAN TAKEOVER @ SCALA

Timba Británica and Rueda Libre present; CUBAN TAKEOVER at SCALA.
For one night only Scala will be transformed into a hot Cuban nightclub featuring 3 floors of dancing, drinks and live Cuban music.
Rueda Libre Londons leading Cuban dance school - will run 3 dance classes of Cuban Salsa (beginner, intermediate and advanced) with Londons top Cuban DJs keeping the music flowing.
Then as part of their 2025 UK Tour, 15 piece Cuban Salsa Orchestra, Tristan Butler y Timba Británica will present: TIMBA REVOLUTION, The Golden Era of Cuban Salsa.
In this 90 minute concert, Timba Británica will play a selection of Cubas biggest hits from the 1990s hailed as the Golden era in the Cuban Salsa from bands such as Los Van Van de Cuba, Manolito Simmonet Y su Trabuco, Manolin el Medico de la Salsa, NG La Banda, La Charanga Habanera and Issac Delgado.
Having been called the most exciting band to emerge on the UK Latin Scene in decades.., Timba Británica was formed in 2024 comprised of best young UK jazz musicians combined with the top Latino musicians in London. In their first year they headlined the Latino stage at Glastonbury, performed a UK tour in collaboration Grammy Award winning vocalist, Mayito Rivera, headlined the UK Havana Salsa Festival and sold out their debut performance at the famous Pizza Express Jazz club in London.
the cultural duality lies in the blend of players from both countries an intoxicating blend of son, salsa, rock and funk - JAZZ WISE
Event Timings:
7:30pm: DOORS
8:00PM: DANCE CLASSES
9:00PM: LIVE SHOW
11:00PM: CURFEW
EVENT BIO FULL
After having played in the UK Latin scene for over 10 years, drummer and percussionist Tristan Butler (UK) had established himself as one of Londons most in-demand Latin percussionists. Spending much of his time in Cuba studying with the drummers and percussionists of Havanas top bands such as Alain Perez Orchestra, Manolin el Medico de la Salsa, Formell y Los Van Van, El Noro y 1ra Clase, Azucar Negra and Haila Mompié, Tristan was developing his own unique style to Cuban timba playing calling from his Jazz fusion upbringing mixed with in-Cuba training.
In March 2024, Tristan called together the best young UK jazz musicians, combined them with the top Latino musicians in London and formed the UKs biggest Cuban Salsa orchestra Timba Británica.
The 15 piece, cross cultural power house is dedicated to performing the intricate, groove based arrangements of Cuban Salsa - an intoxicating mix of son, rumba, salsa, funk and rock, all played by 15 of the most sought after session musicians in the UK.
Within the groups first 6 months they had recorded a series of Live Sessions at Terminal Studios in London, Headlined the Latino stage at Glastonbury, performed a UK tour in collaboration with Ex-Los Van Van, Grammy Award winning vocalist, Mayito Rivera, headlined the UK Havana Salsa Festival and sold out their debut performance at the famous Pizza Express Jazz club in London.
the cultural duality lies in the blend of players from both countries an intoxicating blend of son, salsa, rock and funk - JAZZ WISE
In May 2025,Tristan Butler y Timba Británica are back with a new project: TIMBA REVOLUTION, The Golden Era of Cuban Salsa.
This 90 minute concert celebrates the Cuban timba revolution in the 1990s where an explosion of creativity and innovation by the Cuban salsa bands made the biggest leap in development in the sound of modern salsa and later was defined as its own genre, Timba.
With bigger bands, mixture of electronic and acoustic instruments and more complex arrangements, the sound of Timba was revolutionary and became a THE sound of progressive Latin music throughout Latin America and remains one the most popular genres across the south American and Latin American world.
Timba Británica will play some of the biggest hits from the 1990s hailed as the Golden era in the Cuban Salsa (TIMBA.COM) from bands such as Los Van Van de Cuba, Manolito Simmonet Y su Trabuco, Manolin el Medico de la Salsa, NG La Banda, La Charanga Habanera and Issac Delgado.
Event Timings:
7:30pm: DOORS
8:00PM: DANCE CLASSES
9:00PM: LIVE SHOW
11:00PM: CURFEW