This week's Sonicbids spotlight winner is a groovy neo-salsa band, Bio Ritmo, who fuse elements of traditional styles with electronica. Bio Ritmo know how to preserve the soul of salsa while adding in a few less-than-orthodox ingredients. The result is something born in the seventies, and reincarnated in nine guys in the nineties. For over ten years they've pushed the boundaries of the genre, going where no mere mariachi band could ever go. Lead singer Rei Alvarez and the gang agree that experimentation is an essential part of Salsa, a genre that is already full of various influences and styles. The group has gained recognition over the years, including recently being named Siempre Salsa All Stars (The Best of Independent Salsa) in Latin Beat Magazine, 2006, and a landing a feature in the World Music Network's Rough Guide to Salsa in 2007. Their latest album, Bionico is out now.

Tour Dates For Bio Ritmo:
09/19 - Brooklyn, NY - CD Release Party @ Zebulon
09/20 - Richmond, VA - CD Release Party @ Capital Ale House
09/24 - Williamsburg, VA - College of William and Mary
09/25 - Harrisonburg, VA - Artful Dodger Grille and Cafe
09/26 - Virginia Beach, VA - Neptune Festival
09/27 - Washington, DC - Kennedy Center
09/28 - Harrisonburg, VA - Clementine Cafe
10/03 - Newport News, VA - DSU Ballroom
10/10 - Washington, DC - Black Cat -
10/11 - Williamsburg, VA - Gala
10/12 - Charlotte, NC - Festival Latino Americano
10/15 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Music
10/16 - Madison, WI - The Annex
10/18 - Chicago, IL - Las Tablas
10/22 - Guelph, Ontario - Ebar -
10/23 - Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rossa
10/24 - Toronto, Ontario - Lula Lounge
10/25 - Morgantown, WV - 123 Pleasant St.
10/30 - Arlington, VA - Iota Club
10/31 - New York, NY - SOBS
11/07 - Carrboro, NC - Local 506

http://www.bioritmo.com

by: Joe Puglisi