Jeremy Corbyn to visit Powys Latin American music festival

On September 16, El Sueño Existe Festival will be returning to Machynlleth for its 2023 instalment, with Jeremy Corbyn, a longstanding supporter of the festival, present for the event.

The festival was first held in Machynlleth in 2005 as a celebration of Latin American music and culture.

The 2023 event is also commemorating 50 years since the military coup in Chile that claimed the lives of thousands, including the festival’s namesake Victor Jara, a Chilean poet, singer and activist who was murdered under the regime of dictator August Pinochet at the age of 40.

Members of the Frida Violeta Band (Image: Tony Corden)

Jara was among over 3,000 people who were detained, tortured and executed following a violent coup that toppled Chile’s democratically elected government in 1973.

Festival founder Tony Corden said: “Our purpose is to bring the representation of Victor Jara's vision of a fairer, more compassionate world into the twenty first century.

“There will be music from the all-woman Latin American band, Frida Violeta Band along with Grupo Luma from Chile.

“It will kick off at with the Dyfi Samba Band and there will be a series of talks, films and presentations peppered by music and dance throughout the afternoon and into the evening concert.

“Longstanding festival supporter Jeremy Corbyn will again be present as will key speakers on contemporary Latin America.

“For those who just prefer to dance, there will be tickets at the door for the evening concert.

“Sunday morning will kick off again with more talks and live music up to the finale in late afternoon.

“Come and learn more about Victor Jara's dream from radical speakers and film makers and don't forget dancing shoes and musical instruments.”

More information on the festival and tickets can be found here.