Grupo Niche

Grammy award winning group Grupo Niche started in 19—. With bandleader Jairo Varela, a self-taught songwriter and bandleader from the province of Chocó. Varela died in 2012 at age 62, but left behind a rich discography. Which is more popular than ever, Grupo Niche is on the top of salsa music.

The band has always been a starting point for many talent, several artists who played on our stage started as singers or musicians in the group: co-founder Alexis Lozano with Guayacan Orquesta (AF 01' , 04', 13'), Jimmy Saa (AF '13), Javier Vasquez (AF '22), Diego Galé with Grupo Galé (AF '98, '01, '11, '14), Willy Garcia (AF '08).

Ever since the death of Jairo Varela in 2012 the band is tightly managed by his daughter Yanila: she cherishes sweet memories of our festival, because it was her first European trip with her father as a teenager.

In 2021 they won a Grammy for Best Tropical Latin Album for "40". And in 2020 a Latin Grammy Award for Best Salsa Album for "40" and in 2023 for "Niche Sinfónico", a collaboration with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia.

As a tribute to Jairo and the music of Grupo Niche, the city of Cali revealed a musical sculpture in the shape of a giga-trumpet. It plays their music day and night.