SEMIFINAL #1 – Syli d’Or 19th

Dos Guitarras | Candombe, Tango, Chacarera (Argentine)

Dos Guitarras is a young duo formed in 2023 by Osvaldo Rabunal and Nicolas Martin, two guitarists united by a shared passion for Latin American music. Their repertoire, both rich and vibrant, blends contemporary creativity with traditional rhythms from South America — candombe, tango, chacarera — rooted primarily in Argentina, with sounds also drawn from Brazil, Venezuela and Uruguay. Since forming, Dos Guitarras has won over Quebec audiences with acclaimed performances in Bedford, Frelighsburg and Saint-Armand, as well as in Montréal at La Petite Marche, Espace Amalgame, École Vincent-d’Indy and Montréal City Hall. At every appearance, the duo captivates with its sensitivity, virtuosity and the depth of its musical dialogue.

AZARA | Flamenco, Salsa, Jazz (Spain)

AZARA is a musical project born in Montreal, a crossroads city where cultures meet and reinvent themselves. Driven by an Andalusian soul and the creative energy of Montreal’s vibrant music scene, the group fuses the traditions of southern Spain with Latin American rhythms and the spirit of contemporary jazz. Its sound blends copla, bolero, rumba flamenca, salsa, and flamenco-jazz into a personal and expressive musical language. At the heart of AZARA lies a simple yet powerful intention: to tell stories, each song conceived as an emotional journey. On stage, AZARA delivers a warm and immersive experience, marked by expressive vocals, musical chemistry, and that distinctive Andalusian energy that moves effortlessly from gentle melancholy to joyful celebration. The project offers sincere, cross-cultural, and deeply heartfelt music that celebrates both cultural encounters and Montreal’s creative vitality.

Sandya | Gnawa fusion (Maroc)

Sandya Fusion Band is a Montréal-based gnawa fusion group led by Fathallah Cherkaoui. Weaving the hypnotic rhythms of gnawa music with reggae, funk, rock and jazz influences, the group draws audiences in with its powerful groove, deep spiritual energy, and Cherkaoui’s spellbinding voice and masterful guembri playing. Rooted in tradition yet resolutely contemporary, Sandya Fusion Band vividly embodies the vitality of Montréal’s world music scene. Through its unique universe, the group celebrates cultural diversity and fosters dialogue between peoples, making music a universal language of connection, healing and joy.