i just got back from an amazing concert performed by Illapu. i've been wanting to see this group perform live after falling in love with their cd called Grandes Trovadores which features their #1 hits beginning back in the early 1970s.

Illapu is a Chilean Folk and Andean musical ensemble that is the most well known world wide for this musical genre (musica Andina) and was formed in 1971 in Antofagasta, in northern Chile. In 1981, because of their liberal views against Pinochet's regime, they were forced to leave Chile or risk being killed by Pinochet's millitary - going first to France and later Mexico City. Traveling then, all through South America and Europe, they became extremely popular and opened the world's ears to appreciate and love this musical style that uses traditional Andean instruments such as wood flutes and pan pipes. In 1990 after Pinochet's resign from his position as Dictator of Chile, Illapu was allowed to return to Chile, and remain extremely popular to this day. :o)

if you want to know more or listen to clips of a few of Illapu's tunes, visit the Rolling Stones website at www.rollingstone.com/artists/illapu or go to www.illapu.cl/blog - yes, that last site will be in spanish, but there's a video posted by YouTube that shows one of their music videos, and there are also other random clips. i encourage you to check it out or do a google search and broaden your musical knowledge. :o)