Rebulú, Grupo Candela, Rey Cruz

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Jeff Alexander Photography

Grupo Candela on stage.

Grupo Candela

Mad Lit, a concert series hosted by the Greater Madison Music City Project and Urban Community Arts Network, is back on seven Fridays in 2023 featuring musicians, visual artists and vendors of color. It kicks off July 14 with a Latin music showcase including Rebulú, Grupo Candela and Rey Cruz. The series returns with hip-hop on July 28, and a lineup of Ted Park & Parlay Pass, Tas Raww, Chaos New Money, J. Clark and DJ Pain 1. Find updates at ourgmmc.org.

media release: Mad Lit is a series of free outdoor events happening this summer on the 100 Block of State Street in Madison, Wisconsin.  The goal of this event series is to increase foot traffic downtown and put a spotlight on local music, visual art, and businesses run by people of color.  Events will take place on Friday evenings from 8 pm - 11 pm and are open to all ages. Mad Lit will run from July 14 through September 29.

More on this week's artists:

Grupo Candela is a 12 piece Madison based tropical band. The band has been playing steady since its inception in 2005. Candela offers a diverse repertoire of dance-oriented songs which includes salsa, merengue, cumbia, bachata, bomba, and plena. The band aims to be a bridge to the source of tropical music and its orientation is old school, touching on classic Cuban, Puerto Rican, Colombian, and Dominican music. Members have included representation from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Mexico, as well as many converted Latinos from the United States.

Rebulú is made up of 9 musicians and it is a band in the mold of a classic Cuban conjunto with a twist. It's sound is a deft, tight, soulful blend of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and African diaspora grooves topped with powerful lead and harmony vocals. Rebulu's repertoire includes classics of the genre as well as originals that bring in elements of pop and rock. Formed in early 2019, the group has already garnered an impressive buzz in the Madison salsa scene and is guaranteed to keep the dance floor hoppin'.  

Rey Cruz is a recording urban Latin artist, composer & music producer, originally from Honduras, Central America. His passion, love, discipline and devotion for the music has led him to perform in very important community & Festival events to have a great time and inspire others with his music and talent. At the same time, become a role model of perseverance and inspiration to upcoming artists to never give up on their dreams and life goals. And, to always work hard, and keep moving forward no matter the obstacles.

Vendors & Visual Artists: Queen P's Throne, Nuestra Cultura Crafts, Creations for Deities, LashayTheArtist, and Lilada Gee will be on the 100 Block of State Street during Mad Lit on July 14 from 8PM - 11PM!