Brutal Fest’s 2014 Winter Festival

A festival that insisted on letting the world know that Cuban music is not only salsa and reggaeton, but also has a heavy metal tradition with enthusiastic fans

Organized by Brutal Beatdown Records with the collaboration of Agencia Cubana de Rock, Brutal Fest is the first and most important international extreme music fest in Cuba. It takes place twice a year in Cuba: Brutal Winter Fest (February) and Brutal Summer Fest (August). The Brutal Winter Fest will be dedicated to Canadian Trigger Effect vocalist Nick Babeu, who passed away in November, 2013. The lineup includes The Prestige (France); Chariots of the Gods (Canada); Meltdown, No Sun in San Francisco and Algebra (Switzerland), and Combat Noise, Darkness Fall, Switch, Arrabio, Tragedy, Zeus and Espoleta (Cuba). As usual, the Fest will travel to other cities around Cuba:

Feb 13: Santa Clara
Feb 15: Holguín
Feb 16: Santiago de Cuba
Feb 18: Camagüey
Feb 19: Trinidad
Feb 21 & 22: La Habana
Feb 23: Artemisa


  • Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba

    Carnaval de Santiago de Cuba  LH 5

    The origins of the Santiago Carnival go back to the end of the seventeenth century when processions would wind their way through the city streets celebrating the day of the patron Saint Santiago. Duri …

    January 1, 1959: Triumph of the Cuban Revolution

    January 1, 1959: Triumph of the Cuban Revolution  LH 5

    New Year’s Day has a special meaning in Cuba since it was on this first day of 1959, Cuba was shaken by a much-awaited news—Fulgencio Batista, who had seized power through a military coup on March 10, …

    Havana’s Harlistas get on the road

    Havana’s Harlistas get on the road  LH 5

    2nd Harley Davidson Havana to Varadero International Rally (Feb 8-11, 2013) Cuba’s second ‘international’ Harley Davidson Rally (Encuentro Harlista!) took place from Feb 8-11, 2013. This was bigger an …

    Cine Pobre: Cuba’s hippest & retro film festival is back

    Cine Pobre: Cuba’s hippest & retro film festival is back  LH 5

    After a two-year break, Cuba’s ‘poor man’s’ film festival is back. Founded by Cuban filmmaker Humberto Solas, the festival is traditionally held in the sleepy fishing village of Gibrara that wakes up …

    July 26, 1953: Attack on Moncada Barracks

    July 26, 1953: Attack on Moncada Barracks  LH 5

    On July 26, 1953 a group of young men and two women led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba while another group attacked the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Barracks in the cit …

    International Workers’ Day

    International Workers’ Day  LH 5

    Hundreds of thousands of Cubans filed through Havana’s Revolution Square on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 in a May Day parade that paid tribute to Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan leader…A sea of workers, many we …

    Paco De Lucía at the 2013 Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival

    Paco De Lucía at the 2013 Leo Brouwer Chamber Music Festival  LH 5

    We cannot thank Leo Brower enough for his contribution to Cuban culture. Not only for his work—possibly the most extensive and solid of all time of any Cuban composer—but also for the time he has devo …

    Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope

    Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope  LH 5

    The Terry Fox Marathon of Hope takes place in Havana and all across the country, starting at 9am. This has the greatest participation of any country in the world with up to 2.3 million people running, …

    Balletomania at the International Ballet Festival

    Balletomania at the International Ballet Festival  LH 5

    Blind but beady-eyed, beaky-nosed, old, imposing and profoundly glamorous, Alicia Alonso stands in a single spotlight at the front of the dress circle of the Gran Teatro de La Habana, bathed in waves …

    VII Jornada Cubana contra la Homofobia (IDAHO)

    VII Jornada Cubana contra la Homofobia (IDAHO)  LH 5

    From May 5 to May 24, Cuba will celebrate the 7th Jornada Cubana contra la Homofobia in Havana, Granma and other locations in Cuba. The two-week event included symposiums, lectures, films, art exhibit …

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