Before Reggae, there was Ska. And before Ska, Mento was the first popular Jamaican style of music. Los Apartamentos – consisting of musicians from some very well-known Cologne bands (The Braces, Monkey Shop, Jamaika Jupp, Kapelle#3, Erdmöbel) – are dedicated to bringing Mento back. In fact, they were so successful teaching us Mento at last year’s festival that we have asked them back.
Equipped with rhumba box, banjo, guitar and, of course, their mellow voices, Los Apartamentos will happily give us more lessons in Mento this year. Lock up your children!