Grupo Bohemio, musical purveyors of all things Latin, returns to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 30.File photo
Grupo Bohemio, musical purveyors of all things Latin, returns to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 30. File photo

Popular Latin rock and Santana tribute band Grupo Bohemio returns to the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 30. Based in the Coachella Valley, the six-man ensemble, united by their Latin roots and love for popping percussion, is a regular at desert casinos and has performed at Disney’s California Adventure Park.

With its driving beats, horns, guitars and solid vocals, GB covers Latin/American music styles including Columbian cumbia, Cuban salsa, Puerto Rican reggaeton, rock en Espanola and a dynamic tribute to Santana and Latin rocker Mana. Sending up familiar tunes like “Oye Como Va,” “Black Magic Woman,” “La Bomba” and “Dance Sister Dance,” GB has proven a hit with Idyllwild’s dancers.

No matter what Bohemio plays, Manny Torres of the band urged Idyllwild dancers to fill the floor, feel the beat and lose themselves in GB’s percussive pulse of hotly spiced Latin hits.

Band members include Jacinto Cancino, drums and vocals; Ruben Cancino, keyboard and vocals; Victor Ibarra, percussion; Juan Hernandez, sax and vocals; Lupe Garza, bass guitar; and Torres, lead guitar.

As of this writing, an opening act for Grupo Bohemio has not been booked. Normally opening acts start at 6 p.m. Admission to the concert series, produced by Ken Dahleen and his ISCS board, is free and the summer series is a well-attended gathering place for Idyllwild locals. As they do each year, Dahleen and board book the acts and launch the season without enough money on hand to fund it. Dahleen noted that more than $13,000 still needs to be raised to fund the $31,200 series budget. Craig and Janice Coopersmith’s water and ice cream sales at the concert venue are donated to help fund the series.

So bring chairs and cash — chairs (and food and libations) for comfort and cash for the ubiquitous donation jars concert volunteers pass during the festivities. Contributions also may be sent to Idyllwild Summer Concert Series, P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild, CA 92549.

For more about the concert series, visit www.idyllwildsummerconcertseries.com.