Los Pleneros de la 21

Coming up in June...TWO incredible sessions of Un Paso Alante! JUNE 4 - El lenguaje de la Plena: Cadencia, Estructura, y Memoria Cantada con Víctor Vélez Join us for an evening with Master Plenero Víctor Vélez, joining us from Puerto Rico, as we take a journey into the language of La Plena. Dive into lyrical structure, cadence, the art of storytelling, and the collective memory carried so beautifully through plena's song. JUNE 17 - Tamboreando con Bony Benavides Join us for an evening with percussionist and cultural practitioner Bony Benavides as we explore bomba through its living connections to other Afro-Latine rhythmic traditions. Through this unique lens, participants will engage in a more profound exploration of the rhythmic language of bomba, deepening their understanding of musical conversation and the role of the drum as both foundation and voice. FOR BOTH SESSIONS - Time: 6:00 PM–7:30 PM | Location: Julia de Burgos Cultural Center $25 per class | $45 for both sessions Space limited, pre-registration highly encouraged Registration and info at: /upa The Un Paso Alante series is made possible in part by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts, The Rooted and Relational Community Grant made possibly by the Centro for Puerto Rican Studies and Michigan State University, and Sirius XM. #bomba #plena #bombayplena #pleneros21 #lp21 #unpasoalante

Los Pleneros de la 21 proudly present Las Fiestas de Cruz: 40ta aniversario May 16, 2026, 7pm The People’s Church 163 East 111th Street | El Barrio, NYC - ¡Mayo Florido ha llegado! Come join Los Pleneros de la 21 as we celebrate a very special 40th Anniversary of Las Fiestas de Cruz, a beloved 200+ year old Puerto Rican tradition that captures the strength of family heritage and community through song, spirit and chanted rosaries. - This year, in recognition to elders and vanguards of the Fiesta de Cruz traditions, we invite you to join us at 5PM with frituras and light refreshments at Villa Santurce Community Garden (111th st & Park Avenue) as we honor the late Olga Costoso. A devoted steward of the Fiesta de Cruz, Olga created a sacred space in El Barrio for community, bomberes and pleneres. At 6:30pm, and following a welcoming and altar recognition at the garden, a procession will depart Villa Santurce towards The People’s Church. All are welcomed to join and ensure the sounds of plena echo through El Barrio and to kick off Las Fiestas de Cruz. - Cost: Free (Donations appreciated) * Music * Community * Familia * Tradición * (Light food and beverages available for purchase) - This program is part of LP21's Cultural Legacy Initiative, made possible with funding from New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and generous contributions from individuals like you! @lmcc_nyc @nyculture @nyscouncilonthearts @fsumc #bomba #plena #lp21 #newyorkcity #puertorico

Episode 488 came out Tuesday. @damonmgrant gets to talk to @nmgonzalez.perc about @pleneros21 #Bomba, #Plena, music business, education, and so much more. There’s also segments like gig alerts, music news, and others. Bonus content on the website in the show notes: discussions in percussion (dot com) #percussion #podcast Photo by @martincohenofficial

Los Pleneros de la 21 is excited to announce a special 3-city tour celebrating la plena and our latest album Por La Plena y Otros Asuntos. Joining us in each city are fellow pleneros and bomberos from Puerto Rico, to truly highlight the spirit of La Plena and the album. Visit the following pages for full information on each city engagement: Brunswick, Maryland May 29, 7pm | Concert at Smoketown May 30, 1pm | Bomba dance workshop May 30, 2pm | Plena percussion workshop May 30, 12pm | Puerto Rico in Maryland Festival with Cultura Plenera: /CulturaPlenera/events NYC, NY June 4, 6pm | Un Paso Alante with Víctor Vélez (an LP21 event) June 6, 8pm | Concert at Bronx Music Hall June 7, 12pm - 3pm | Plenazo celebration at La Casita de Chema with Bronx Music Hall / /upcoming-events Santurce, Puerto Rico June 20 | Concert at Tito Matos Fest June 21 | Recorrido de la Plena with La Casa de la Plena Tito Matos & Taller Comunidad La Goyco: /en/home / -- The Por La Plena y Otros Asuntos tour is supported in large part by Mid Atlantic Arts’ ArtsCONNECT, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the Offices of NYC District 8 Council Member Elsie Encarnación, and other supporters.

V Tito Matos Fest 19 al 21 de junio Viernes 19 de junio: 6:00pm Apertura de la expo: De Puerto Rico a Nueva York 7:00pm Concierto Jonathan Suazo Sábado, 20 de junio 2:00pm Plenazo 5:00pm Viento de Agua 7:00pm Los Pleneros de la 21 Domingo 21 de junio: 1:00pm Presentación de Papel Machete 3:00pm Candela 4:00 Plenazo y Bombazo En La Goyco, 1763 calle Loíza

BTS of the interview with Melinda Gonzalez @melindaz249 Interviewed by LeAna Lopez @leana.zeta and Jorge Vazquez @jorge_whiterice_vazquez working the camera/audio. Made possible by the Library of Congress. Documenting Evolving Practices and Perspectives of Bomba and Plena in the Diaspora #LibraryofCongress #ccg #puertoricanculture #bomba #diaspora @pleneros21 @bombayony

Del 19 al 21 de junio presentamos el V Tito Matos Fest. Celebrando el legado de Tito y la tradición plenera de Nueva York. Viernes, 19 de junio: 6:00pm Apertura de la Expo en la Galería 7:00pm Concierto de Jonathan Suazo Sábado, 20 de junio: 2:00pm Plenazo 4:00pm Música Bailable 5:00pm Los Pleneros de la 21 7:00pm Viento de Agua Domingo, 21 de junio: 1:00pm Papel Machete 2:00pm Recorrido: Plena Cangrejera: Santurce en Nueva York 3:00pm Plenazo #titomatos #titomatosfest #plena

About last night…

BTS of the interview with Viannca Vélez @vianncavelez Interviewed by LeAna Lopez @leana.zeta and Jorge Vazquez @jorge_whiterice_vazquez working the camera/audio. Made possible by the Library of Congress. Documenting Evolving Practices and Perspectives of Bomba and Plena in the Diaspora #LibraryofCongress #ccg #puertoricanculture #bomba #diaspora @pleneros21 @segundaquimbamba

Anoche en Albany, en una conferencia de liderato para estudiantes latinos de escuela superior. 👊🏽🇵🇷 #bomba #plena #lp21 #badbunny #puertorico

Maryland, get ready 🫵 Los Pleneros de la 21 is coming through with the full force of Afro‑Puerto Rican rhythm 🇵🇷🎶 A powerful celebration of culture, music, and community by @cultura_plenera Don’t miss it! There is no cost to attend but registration is appreciated via Cultura Plenera's FB event page here: /events/s/puerto-rico-in-maryland-festiv/1450118123338236/ #LosPlenerosDeLa21 #CulturaPlenera #Bomba #Plena #PuertoRicanCulture

The living legacies of CCCADI and Los Pleneros de la 21 have grown intertwined for more than 40 years now. As the institutional stewards of Bomba y Plena in New York City, @pleneros21 ’s respect for our Afro-Puerto Rican 🇵🇷 musical traditions have naturally brought us together. As we continue to celebrate CCCADI’s milestone 50th anniversary, it is fitting to be hosting LP21 and their Gran Bombazo Comunitario on April 21st at CCCADI Ilé Oyin. We are celebrating this collaboration by looking back at our 1984 Carnival in NY program at Lincoln Center, featuring Los Pleneros de la 21 in their early, early days. Que viva la bomba y la plena!! Join us for El Gran Bombazo Comunitario at CCCADI Ilé Oyin: a celebration of the learning, growth, and ongoing journey of the students of LP21’s Bomba and Plena Adult Workshop. The Bombazo also honors the broader community that carries and uplifts this practice: our elders, culture bearers, practitioners, and all who continue to show up in support of Bomba and Plena. Tuesday, April 21st CCCADI Ilé Oyin (208 E126th St.) 6PM- FREE Event RSVP via link on bio