Following a sold-out 2025 Surtierra Tour, Quimantu return to London as the headline act of Voces Festival 2026. Renowned for their virtuosic musicianship and distinctive blend of Latin American traditions with contemporary global influences, the acclaimed Anglo-Dutch-Chilean ensemble will bring their uplifting and powerful sound to the Lyric Hammersmith for a special festival performance on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July.

Presented by Quimantu and Musiko Musika, Voces Festival 2026 takes place on 3 and 4 July at the Studio Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith. The festival celebrates traditional and new music through a programme that showcases cultural diversity, community engagement, and artistic collaboration.

The opening concert on Friday 3 July features Quimantu, whose music reaches from Latin America to England and beyond, blending ancient traditions with contemporary influences shaped by London´s cosmopolitan culture. Directed by founder Mauricio Venegas-Astorga, the group combines exceptional songwriting and arranging with virtuoso musicianship.

Leading the ensemble is singer Laura Venegas-Rojas, whose vocals are joined by a rich palette of strings, percussion and wind instruments. The current line-up also features Rachel Pantin, Emma Purslow and Jobine Siekman, whose string playing contributes to the band´s distinctive sound. The concert will open with a set from singer-songwriter Isabel Ros-López, while special guests will join Quimantu on stage during the evening.

Quimantu´s history stretches back to 1981, when Mauricio Venegas-Astorga formed the group. Over more than four decades, the ensemble has developed a unique musical identity rooted in the folk traditions of Latin America while incorporating influences from Western classical music, Celtic, African and Indian styles.

The group has performed in major venues including Queen Elizabeth Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Purcell Room, St John´s Smith Square and Barbican Hall, as well as internationally at the Folies Bergère in Paris. Their festival appearances have included Skye World Music Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Larmer Tree Festival and Broadstairs Folk Week, alongside events across Europe and beyond.

The second concert of the festival, taking place on Saturday 4 July, celebrates the achievements of Musiko Musika´s ECCO Young Leaders Community Project. The programme will feature original songs created by young musicians involved in the project, alongside performances by the Ethnic Contemporary Classical Orchestra (ECCO) and ECCO Young Leaders.

Founded in 1998 and jointly directed by Mauricio Venegas-Astorga and Rachel Pantin, Musiko Musika develops music projects and educational programmes with social and cultural impact. The organisation is funded by Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation and is one of the Lyric Hammersmith´s resident partners.

Voces Festival – Festival Voces Chilenas y Latinoamericanas en Gran Bretaña – celebrates Chilean and Latin American culture in the UK, highlighting its collaborations and influence on the country´s musical landscape. The festival is produced and presented by Musiko Musika and Quimantu with support from Arts Council England.

Voces Festival Concert 1: Quimantu 

Friday 3rd July 8.00pm

The Studio Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith

Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0QL

Tickets £15 (£10 concessions) Book Now

Voces Festival Concert 2: ECCO Young Leaders Community Project

Saturday 4th July 6.30pm

The Studio Theatre, Lyric Hammersmith

Lyric Square, King Street, London W6 0QL

Tickets £10 (£5 concessions) Book Now

For more information: 

• Quimantu: https://www.quimantu.net

• Mauricio Venegas-Astorga: https://www.quimantu.net/the-players

• Voces Festival: www.voceschilenas.com

• Email enquiries: [email protected] 

To arrange interviews in the press or on radio and television, for further information about the  concert, or to obtain CDs for promotional competitions etc please contact: 

Rachel Pantin on 07801 932 052 [email protected] / www.quimantu.net 

You can find us on X, Facebook and Instagram: @Quimantumusic @MusikoMusika