The Annual Festival Latino Americano, which takes place Sunday at SouthPark's Symphony Park, scored a coup when it booked critical darlings and fan favorites Aterciopelados for its 21st year. The festival marks the band's first Charlotte show in its 20-year existence.

For many first-generation immigrants in the Southeast, the show is particularly special. A few years ago, when defunct local Latin rock band La Rua covered the Colombian duo's songs live, the joyous response was moving - as if its music provided a piece of home for its fans. Imagine seeing the real thing.

"It is special when we play out of Colombia where Colombians and Latin Americans get together. It's always warm and a bit nostalgic," says vocalist Andrea Echeverri, who recently released her second solo album, "Dos." "Since we've been traveling, we've met a lot of people. You get the feeling of what it is to live far from home (searching) for better economic situations and (to get away from) the violence.

"Maybe in the U.S. or Europe they do get better economical situations, but they always seem like they left something big and special. It's your roots, your friends and family, your smells, the food. I think it's hard for people who live far away from where they were born."

Those smells, food, dance, arts and culture are what the Latin American Festival is all about. The live music lineup includes Cuban-American artist Jose Conde, Miami's genre-splicing Xperimento, Bachata from New York's Gersey Nicolas, and locals Los Tarascos de Michoacan and Fusion Latina.

Though known worldwide for its Latin Grammy-winning melding of pop, rock and Latin traditions with socially conscious lyrics, Aterciopelados aren't mainstream stars at home, Echeverri says.

"I think because I am so outspoken, maybe that's not very comfortable for a lot of people," she says. "It's not even comfortable for the media. It's not what's hot and what's being sold."

As a female artist condemning violence in her country, drawing attention to environmental issues and women's issues and rights, Echeverri is far from your typical Colombian woman.

"I'm extremely unusual. I'm not like a massive artist. I think a lot of people admire (what we do), but not a lot of people go to my concerts and buy my records, maybe because it is so unusual," she adds.

Of course there are things about the U.S. that Aterciopelados, which doesn't tour here often, loves. "We're ecstatic going to music shops buying instruments and gear," she says. She and musical partner Hector Buitrago have also found an audience of immigrants hungry to connect with their former home, as well as fans of eclectic, adventurous global rock music.

"In the U.S., you find these niches. You find people interested in different things other than the mainstream," she says. "We're working on that, but that's harder in countries like mine. In the U.S., you feel there's a place for everyone."