Recording: Mas Aya

Artist: Mas Aya

Song: Mapale^*

Recorded at Festival Main Stage (BIG on Bloor Festival), July 21, 2018.

Mas Aya - Mapale

I dipped into this busy street festival just long enough this year to see Brandon Valdivia ignite a conscious party. His flute/vox/electronics were accompanied throughout by percussionist Reimundo Sosa, and the spirit was further enlivened by a very-pregnant Lido Pimienta who not only provided the stage area's jubilant/pointed artwork installation ("Families Belong Together") but also came onstage to dance and add vocals to "Hoy" and "Masters". (Congratulations to the truth-to-power couple on that child's recent arrival!) With happy children dashing about and friends and passers-by stopping to dance it felt like a joyful and positive space — this is what our streets should be for, after all.

^* Thanks to Brandon for passing along the title to this one!