Grupo Fantasma - “The Wall” (feat. Locos Por Juana & Ozomatli)

SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Ozomatli, Manu Chao, Galactic

SXSW mainstays Grupo Fantasma return in 2020 on the back of their excellent seventh full-length American Music: Volume 7, exploring cumbia song-forms around smatterings of funk, continuing to progress the band’s  tight grooves. Latin and Afrobeat pop rhythms power Grupo Fantasma’s infectious, tight sound and the Austin unit hones their danceable melodies around a traditional/psychedelic blended sound. Grupo Fantasma noticeably sound live on record throughout American Music, nicely controlling their expansive, nine-piece breakouts. (Kevin McStravick)

2013 Review: A week or so back, we highlighted Austin funk band Brownout and now the SXSW roster includes the musician’s full-time gig – Grupo Fantasma.  Over the past decade-plus, Grupo Fantasma has discovered an ideal blend of Latin grooves, jazz, hip hop, rock, soul and funk.  If you aren’t dancing at a Grupo Fantasma show, you probably died years ago and your ghost is a boring stiff.  While Latin traditions historically are known for the tightness of their collective sound, Grupo Fantasma takes it to the next level, jamming both with precision and abandonment.