2011 Cubadisco Awards

More than one hundred albums by Cuban musicians were nominated to the 2011 Cubadisco Awards in 30 categories. The announcement was made at the Salón Rosado de la Tropical in Havana. There are exactly 116 candidates to the most important awards of the island’s recording industry which make up the best of CDs produced in Cuba during 2010.

The winners will be announced during the 15th International Cubadisco Fair to be hosted by Santiago de Cuba in the eastern part of the island from May 14th -22nd. Cubadisco President Ciro Benemelis said there are several renowned artists competing for the coveted prizes and also a large number of young talents who were nominated in more than one category.

Some of the up-and-comers are the band Qva Libre, included in the categories of Fusion and Video Clip; and singer songwriter Ray Fernández, whose first CD is nominated in the Best Record category.

Benemelis also pointed out that a large number of the nominated records were produced outside Havana which makes the event far more interesting. Two award ceremonies will take place simultaneously, one at the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Park in Santiago de Cuba and another one at the Karl Marx Theater in Havana where special and honorary awards will be presented.

For the first time the Cubadisco Fair takes place outside Havana and this year it will be dedicated to “Son” music players of the world and to Santiago de Cuba; so one of the highlights of the event will be a 24-hour “Son” concert to be staged in every province by the best “Son” groups. This will be the third edition of the longest “son” concert of the world in Cuba.