La Santa Cecilia kicks off Underground Sound Series in Beaver Creek

For the past 13 fall seasons, the Vilar Performing Arts Center has extended its love to locals with one of the best deals in the Vail Valley, and this year, only the artist lineup has changed. The Underground Sound Series, aka, Love for the Locals Series, offers a pass for six shows, along with a complimentary drink per show, for $125. We’re talking $20.83 for a show and a glass of wine, beer or nonalcoholic drink.

And, the pass is transferable, which means if one genre isn’t quite your style, someone else can use your pass. The series runs from Sept. 18 to Nov. 14.

The transferable VIP pass, for $250, includes access to the May Gallery Patrons Lounge before the show and during intermission with pre-show performances by local musicians, early entrance to the general admission seating, a free premium drink and free espresso, soft drinks and other nonalcoholic selections and free cookies.

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Wednesday, La Santa Cecilia kicks off the series. Named after the patron saint of music, the band blends cultural influence of Latin American styles, along with modern rock and other world music. The group folds in Pan-American rhythms like cumbia, bossa nova, rumba, bolero, tango, jazz and klezmer into its spirited performances.

The artists formed La Santa Cecilia in 2007 with a collective dream to express themselves freely. And, as percussionist Miguel Ramírez said, “It’s been an amazing journey so far.”

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Its debut album, “Noche y Citas,” released in 2011, earned a nomination at the Latin Grammy Awards for its single, “La Negra.” NPR’s Alt Latino named the band’s next release, 2012’s “El Valor,” as one of the best albums of the year.

The musicians followed up on that momentum by ushering “Treinta Dias” in 2013 and winning a Grammy for Best Latin Rock Album, Alternative or Urban. In 2016, “Buenaventura” won a Grammy again in the same category and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Rock Album, as did the Grammy-nominated “Y Vivir” in 2018. The last two albums include a self-titled record in 2019 and “Quiero Verte Feliz” in 2021, nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album.

They’ve also shared a spotlight in television and film, with a cover of “Un Mundo Raro” for “Coco” and songs played on “Weeds” and “The Bridge.”

In keeping with their emphasis on lyrics revolving around love, beauty, tradition, loss, everyday struggles and an overall celebration of life, the group collaborated with the Nature Conservancy to urge people to conserve water and resources in the Conservancy’s All Hands On Earth campaign.

“We approach music with a mentality of serving it with all our love and hope to return to music all the beauty that is has given us,” Ramírez said.

The musicians are currently working on original music “filled with energy and life of experiences of everything we have been living the last few years on purpose,” he said.

If you like Todo Mundo, Las Cafeteras, Flor de Toloache, Pedro Fernández or Vincente Fernández, this show is for you, according to a Vilar Performing Arts Center press release.

“You can expect a great party where you can dance, cry, and more importantly, connect to your feelings and be free,” he said.