Curated by the Afro-Latino Festival NYC with support from Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, the series takes place Wednesdays from September 9-30 at The Plaza at 300 Ashland

Afro-Latino Festival NYC and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership are excited to announce the launch of a new outdoor music concert series called Sounds of The Americas @ The Plaza hosted by Downtown Brooklyn Partnership and sponsored by Orange Barrel Media. The series takes place every Wednesday from 6-8pm on The Plaza at 300 Ashland and celebrates the rhythms and sounds that have settled and taken shape in the Americas. The Americas, from North to Central to South America as well as the Caribbean, is itself a reflection of global diversity and celebrating that global character in the NYC melting pot is only fitting. Each evening will offer a blend of musical and cultural expression that reflects the sounds of cultural and creative diversity. Open to all, the series welcomes music lovers, neighborhood residents, after work visitors and the curious to come out and enjoy the “Sounds of the Americas.”

2026 Sounds of the Americas Schedule:

Voter Registration will take place at each of the concerts ahead of the November 3 General Election. In the event of inclement weather, updates will be posted to IG via @DowntownBrooklyn Partnership and @afrolatinofestnyc.
This series is made possible with support from Two Trees Management Co and Orange Barrel Media.

About the Performers

SEPTEMBER 9:

SABINE BLAIZIN

Sabine Blaizin, DJ, Music Producer, and Event Curator, is a prominent DJ and cultural advocate focused on African diasporic music. Founder of Oyasound Productions which merges traditional rhythms with electronic music, she spins a diverse mix of Global Soul, including House, Afrotech, Afrobeat, and Haitian Roots.

RUN P.

Run P. is an audiophile – DJ, music supervisor, producer, and conceptual artist who creates sonic experiences in art, fashion, lifestyle, and nightlife. Through his decade-old recurring dance party, QUENCH, which sits at the intersection of the global Black electronic scene and NYC’s dance movement, Run champions heavy bass lines that blur the lines between House, Club, Hip-hop, Electronica, Dancehall, Afrobeat, and more. As a music supervisor, he helped to curate the sound for the Comedy Central-cum-HBO show South Side, along with the music and audio programming at The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA), and other projects that live on various platforms worldwide.

SANCTUARIO

Sanctuario is a dynamic musical group that creates a singular and compelling experience by mixing technological sounds with traditional Afro-Dominican rhythms. Monica Ortiz Rossi brings happiness, dancing, and health to celebrations in New York City and across nations globally. She is the creative leader of Sanctuario, an Afro-Latin music and dance group influenced by the rhythms and melodies of her Dominican heritage. The African-derived rhythms unify the people of Quisqueya, or Ayiti, present-day Dominican Republic, and Haiti, which share a rich African history.

SEPTEMBER 16

TALIA PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS CONJUNTO TAHONA 

Talia Productions (led by renowned performer and producer Talía Castro-Pozo) regularly collaborates with the NYC-based salsa band Conjunto Tahona to host vibrant, live salsa events across New York City. Under the direction of Luis Córdoba, Conjunto Tahona brings classic, hard-hitting NYC salsa that serves as the perfect soundtrack for social dancing.

FAMOSO A.K.A. DJ COOCHIE

Known for holding down the New York Latin scene with his signature “70% Salsa / 30% Everything Else” formula, he’s a staple at massive local events like the annual Afro-Latino Festival NYC and various Brooklyn boat rides and plaza takeovers.

SEPTEMBER 23

GOGO NORALES

Gogo Norales (21) is a Garifuna World Music and folkloric musician based from New York. He and his band performs and presents Garifuna music from Honduras representing the garifuna communities in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Gogo Norales believes that culture is your identity. He’s been pushing that influence to gain popularity by being a proud Garifuna. He’s performed in many festivals, such as Multicultural festival, Latin TV film festival, Fête de la Musique, and also Car Free Festival. Norales is featured in a compilation produced by Musician and producer, Tito Pingolinis. He is also featured on an album with Artist, Andy Ordonez, and has performed on TV networks such as Telemundo, Latin TV film networks, Univision, BronxNet, and on ABCNYC.

DJ YOUNG WAVY FOX

Young Wavy Fox is a DJ and Creative Entrepreneur based in Bronx, New York. Her Afro-LatinX roots exudes in her eclectic musical sound. She has features in magazines such as Essence, ELLE UK, WWD, VOGUE, Timeout NY, Art News, People Magazine, Huffington Post, Glamour Magazine + more.

SEPTEMBER 30

LINDA EPO

Queens native Linda EPO is a dynamic singer, pianist, and bandleader whose transcendent performances blur cultural boundaries. She is known for her vibrant energy and stage presence. Her ability to sing in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Kreyòl, enables her to connect with audiences worldwide, creating captivating cross-cultural experiences.

DERRICK BARNETT & THE STATEMENT BAND

Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, Derrick Barnett is internationally recognized as one of reggae’s finest bassists and is widely celebrated as “Dancehall’s Greatest Live Bassist,” a title he has proudly held for more than 40 years. As the founder and leader of the legendary Sagittarius Band, Derrick helped revolutionize live dancehall performance, bringing the energy and excitement of the Jamaican dancehall directly to the stage. Throughout his remarkable career he has recorded and performed with reggae royalty, including Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Dennis Brown, Beres Hammond, Gregory Isaacs, Marcia Griffiths, Yellowman, Buju Banton, and many more.

DJ KHALIL

Khalil is an International DJ & Event Curator based in Brooklyn, NY of Panamanian & Jamaican decent. Founder of Caribbean based brand Tingz which attracts thousands of attendees annually through various platforms in nightlife, culinary arts, educational activations and many other mediums all based on Caribbean culture. He’s also headlined many stages like AfroFuture in Ghana, AfroNation, AfroPunk, Afro Latino Festival, Trinidad Carnival & many other stages.

 

ABOUT THE AFRO-LATINO FESTIVAL

The Afro-Latino Festival of New York is an educational and cultural platform celebrating the contributions made by people of African descent from Latin America and the Caribbean to New York City and the world. Now in its 12th year, the festival has built a community of local and international participants and attendees eager to affirm, educate and celebrate through music, film, dance showcases, panel discussions, culinary presentations, art installations. Proceeds go to support the oral history collection and preservation program and other community programming of the Afrolatin@ Project, Inc.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP

Downtown Brooklyn Partnership is a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. The Partnership’s diverse activities include attracting new businesses and improving the environment for existing companies, facilitating the construction of public spaces and streetscapes that promote an active and cohesive community, supporting and promoting Downtown Brooklyn’s cultural assets, and encouraging a sense of place and an engaged civic community.
For more information, visit downtownbrooklyn.com

ABOUT THE PLAZA @ 300 ASHLAND

The Plaza @ 300 Ashland is Downtown Brooklyn’s premier public space in the heart of the Brooklyn Cultural District. In partnership with Two Trees Management Co., the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership manages, programs, and maintains the plaza. The plaza hosts the Downtown Brooklyn Presents series, a calendar of free, high-quality activities and programming including film screenings, concerts, theater performances, dance + fitness classes, poetry readings, community gatherings, and more. These events are all free and open to the public, with the goal of serving the community, the Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood, and NYC’s cultural community at large.