A worldwide computer outage could not keep Damé Arocena away from her fans. Unexpectedly stuck in Salt Lake City during a layover with no connecting flight on Saturday morning, Damé and the Grand Performances team were very close to canceling the show. The go / no-go deadline was fast approaching when, only through divine luck, Damé was able to find a last second flight to San Diego. She Ubered the remaining 120 miles to be with us! 

Arocena arrived at CalPlaza just in time to hit the stage with no sound check and completely wowed our audience, who were none the wiser. She brought it that night… her powerful, soulful voice soaring through the night, her dance moves infectious with energy, her stage presence completely impeccable. Her band flexed their versatility, playing grooves that ranged from upbeat salsa and afro rhythms to heavier mid tempo American soul music. 

A third of the way into her set, Damé paused between songs to tell the audience about her travel woes. She told us that crowd energy is what she would need as a performer to power through her own sleep deprivation. It was an easy request to make – she had already won them over.

Earlier in the evening DJ Wyldeflower (KCRW & dublab) and Pan Dulce set the tone with lively sets filled with Caribbean vibes, past and present. There was even ample music education going on, with Wyldeflower taking the time to explain the history of Cuban music and Pan Dulce teaching the origins of the steel drum and soca, which is featured heavily in their band’s music. These communal experiences, coupled with Chef Jeffrey’s freshly made Cuban congri bowls, really made the night feel authentic and magical. It was divine luck.