Colombian rock band Aterciopelados will perform alongside singer Carlos Vives at the Coliseo General Rumiñahui in Quito on Thursday, September 3, as part of a tour celebrating their landmark album La Pipa de la Paz.
The joint concert brings together two of Colombia's most influential musical acts. Vives, a pioneer in bringing traditional vallenato music to international audiences, will also perform on Saturday, September 5, at the Arena Park in Samborondón alongside the Latin pop group Bacilos.
The Quito performance marks 30 years since the release of La Pipa de la Paz, the group's third studio album and the production that propelled them to global fame. The record earned Aterciopelados the distinction of becoming the first Colombian band or artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award, securing a nomination for Best Latin/Alternative Performance.
Formed in Bogotá in the early 1990s by vocalist Andrea Echeverri and bassist Héctor Buitrago, Aterciopelados became a defining force in Latin alternative rock by fusing traditional Latin American rhythms with punk, rock, and electronic sounds. The Grammy Awards, presented annually in the United States by the Recording Academy, represent the highest honor in the global music industry.
La Pipa de la Paz was the group's final release issued on vinyl format. The album produced the hit single Baracunatana alongside other classic Latin rock tracks including La voz de la patria, Cosita seria, the title track La pipa de la paz, and Te juro que no, which featured a duet with Spanish singer Enrique Bunbury.
The anniversary tour covers territories where the album originally gained widespread acclaim, including dates across the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, and an upcoming European leg. Speaking in an interview prior to the Quito concert, Buitrago, who forms the group's public core alongside lead singer Echeverri, described the upcoming performance as an opportunity to celebrate Colombian music and foster unity.
Buitrago said the concert would serve as a moment to celebrate Colombian music and the bond between Ecuador and Colombia, adding that the event offered a chance for audiences to set aside regional geopolitical tensions through shared music.
Collaborations and Historical Ties
The concert highlights a long-standing historical connection between the two acts. Buitrago noted that La Pipa de la Paz was released within roughly a year of Vives's landmark 1995 album La tierra del olvido, a record that launched Vives's own international career.
Vives, a native of Santa Marta on Colombia's Caribbean coast, transformed traditional vallenato music, a folk genre featuring accordion, drum, and percussion, by infusing it with contemporary pop and rock arrangements. His work helped pave the way for Colombian artists on international charts during the 1990s.
The artists have previously collaborated on musical projects. Vives recently recorded a new version of Aterciopelados's hit song Bolero falaz, while Echeverri contributed vocals to a 2015 production of Vives's La tierra del olvido.
New EP and Empowering Themes
As part of the 30th anniversary festivities, Aterciopelados is releasing a re-recorded version of La culpable, one of the most musically adventurous tracks from La Pipa de la Paz. The song blends joropo, a high-energy traditional rhythm from the Venezuelan and Colombian Llanos plains, with rock and punk elements, exploring themes of freedom from a female perspective.
Buitrago explained that over the past three decades, La culpable evolved into an anthem of female empowerment. The decision to record a new version was prompted by its enthusiastic reception during the band's NPR Tiny Desk Concert, where Buitrago noted it stood out as the most celebrated song of their set.
The track will serve as part of a six-song tribute EP scheduled for release in October. The upcoming recording features guest performances by singer Ana Veydó and the Colombian joropo ensemble Cimarrón.
Rebelliousness and Future Projects
Reflecting on three decades in the music industry, Buitrago attributed the band's staying power to a deliberate choice not to rely solely on past hits. He stated that the group remains driven by a desire to innovate, produce new material, and contribute fresh perspectives rather than remaining static.
Topics that were considered provocative when Aterciopelados started out, such as environmental protection, climate change, women's rights, and indigenous rights, have since entered mainstream discourse. Buitrago said the group has further explored these concerns in their more recent album Rebeldes, which earned a nomination at the US Grammy Awards.
Buitrago emphasized that the band continues to look toward the future while preserving its foundational rebelliousness and artistic independence. He said remaining an alternative group requires adapting to changing times while remaining strictly faithful to personal instinct and judgment regardless of commercial trends.
Following their Quito show, Aterciopelados will continue their anniversary schedule with the October EP release, a major celebration concert in Bogotá, and an extensive international tour. Buitrago said the band remains continuously active writing, recording, and performing live, describing that ongoing work as their guiding compass.
