Campamiento Latino 2006

This years event, the 22nd anniversary of the Campamineto Latino near Glenrowan Victoria was the best to date. With almost 1000 people of Latino heritage, race, or just plain love of the culture got together for the annual reunion., there was never a dull moment.The hosts of the event, Ada and Freddy Gasser on whos property the event was held, organised the event like a military operation. With Ada's mum and dad, manning the kiosk, along with her sister and brother in law, putting in long hours cooking and cleaning up, delicous aromas, of Peruvian and Bolivian cuisine, wafted outward, attracting hungry tummies and watering palates in their general direction. There were many people to catch up with, and the guys in the band wasted no time...chatting to the various other musicans from around the country who were all there to contribute to the succes of this great easter weekend of camping.This was Inka Marka's second time at the event, the last being 2 years ago, with a different lineup, and different musical attitudes.

This time we decided to come for the weekend,and really get into the feel of the whole weekend and were on the entertainment program on both Friday and Saturday nights. Providing some authentic Andean music to an appreciative and initiated audeince was great fun. The mostly Bolivian and Peruvian audience were well versed in the music, and sang along to many of the songs as Enrique belted them out in his inimitable style. He had the crowd psycehd right up there, and the dance floor was full, with not a space for one more person..Andrew Mellado blew many people away with his inspired quena playing, a newcomer to the "real" andean cultural scene, Andrew's talent was seen by many in the community for the first time. Having performed on the fringes of the community for several years, this was Andrew's first time performing for a complety well versed Andean audience, who knew and appreciated the music, and expected the band to deliver strong vibrant melodies to which they could dance . Inka Marka didnt flinch. After almost an hour of music on friday night, and a two song highlight on Saturday evening that turned into a thirty minute medly of well known tunes, many people went away asking themselves, Why havent we heard of these guys before? Returning to accompany the Boliva Inka Dance group, their strong rendition of Los Kjarkas' favorite sayas blended well with the sensual dancing of the two pairs of dancers from Sydney. TvVBolivia were there to film the event, and there is no doubt that the group will be featured on the equivelent of MTV in Bolivia very shortly.Many photos were taken, but this one is of the casual diing area, showing people relaxing and enjoying some of the atmosphere, in the early afternoon as the Pena was being set up for the evening