Garúa Tango Club: A celebration of Argentinian culture and creative freedom
Written by Erin Grieve
Glasgow-based ensemble Garúa Tango Club took to the stage at Glasgow Southside’s The Glad Café, transforming the room into the lively streets of Buenos Aires.
Garúa Tango Club performing at The Glad Café | Credit: @scott.smithmedia
With the ice-cold weather in full force now in Glasgow, Garúa Tango Club didn’t fail to turn up the heat on 27 November at The Glad Café. The venue was a stellar fit; small, cozy and ambient, making it a totally intimate experience for everyone present. Tickets were priced online for £10 and £12 at the door, an affordable price for a night out that provided guests with a priceless experience.
Opening for the Argentinian-inspired group was the dynamic duo Amulet. They had a simple production consisting of an electric guitar, analogue synthesiser and vocal harmonies all of which emitted an experimental, almost hypnotic blend of sounds.
At face value, those sounds came across as quite peculiar, but that was the beauty of it. As much as I couldn’t begin to understand it at first, I simply couldn’t look away or stop listening. No one could. I left at the end of the night with even more questions floating around my mind than I did while watching them play.
Their music did exactly what art is intended to do: evoke thoughts and emotions. The audience was highly encouraged to feel safe to express themselves through dance, yet no one could move a muscle. Two true artistic visionaries.
Amulet performing at The Glad Café
Not long after Amulet’s unforgettable performance it was time for GTC to take centre stage. As soon as the members all started to appear one by one there was an almost instant shift in the room’s energy. Each member of the group was dressed from head to toe in black and red clothing reminiscent of the typical tango attire.
They brought along a wide variety of instruments from violins, flute, cellos, piano and accordion that altogether produced that classic tango orchestra sound. The ensemble was led by Argentine cellist Santiago Gil Duarte who first formed the eight-member group back in 2023 and told the audience that fun fact: the word ‘garúa’ translates to ‘rain’ in English – quite fitting for Glasgow.
Garúa Tango Club performing at The Glad Café | Credit: @scott.smithmedia
Just like with the opener, the crowd was very much encouraged to take full advantage of the space in the room and show off their hidden tango moves. It seemed as though everyone was feeling a bit shy at first but as soon as one person stood up, many more followed along. Watching the once quiet room turn into a safe space for people to feel the music through dancing with complete strangers was truly moving. It just goes to show how much music can bring people together and the power that it holds.
GCU played a variety of tango songs that all gave off a different vibe. Some songs were intended to be spicy while others were a lot more grunge. Although it was mostly musical performances, we got treated to a couple of songs containing outstanding vocals from violinist Masha Zhuravlova. The sheer amount of preparation, practice and roaring passion that went into every one of the performances was unmistakable.
If you’re a fan of tango music or you’re looking to get into it, I would recommend getting yourself down to a Garúa Tango Club concert.