# Event Details - **Event Name**: Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 at 08:00 pm (-07:00) - **Event Description**: Santa Cruz Latin Collective is one of the Central Coast’s most exciting and authentic Latin music ensembles, delivering a powerful blend of Salsa, Latin rock, and Afro-Cuban rhythms rooted deeply in Bay Area history. The band delivers high-energy, dance-driven performances that honor the pioneers of Latin music while presenting a bold, modern sound for today’s audiences. Drawing inspiration from iconic artists such as Santana, Malo, Sapo, Azteca, Fania All-Stars, Eddie Palmieri, and Willie Colón, The Latin Collective combines driving percussion, searing electric guitar, vibrant horn lines, and dynamic bilingual vocals into an electrifying live experience that resonates across the Bay Area and beyond. The group was founded by guitarist Oscar Estrella and timbalero Jimmy Palafox, who assembled an exceptional lineup of seasoned professionals and next-generation talent. Estrella, a Cuban-born guitarist who came of age in San Francisco’s Mission District, is a founding member of the pioneering Latin rock band Sapo and a former member of Malo, placing him at the very heart of the original Latin rock movement. Jimmy Palafox is a well-known Bay Area percussionist, bandleader, and arranger, recognized for his work across Latin rock, salsa, and blues-influenced projects. A Santa Cruz native, Palafox has performed and collaborated with members of several pioneering Latin rock bands, and has worked extensively with Latin rock tribute projects and salsa ensembles, helping preserve the sound and spirit of this music for new generations. His energetic timbales work and deep knowledge of Latin music history are central to the Collective’s sound and vision. The Latin Collective frequently features special guest appearances from some of Northern California’s finest Latin musicians, creating a live show that is both authentic and unpredictable. Each performance celebrates community, culture, and the enduring legacy of Latin music on the West Coast. The members of the Latin Collective include: Jimmy Palafox - Timbales and Percussion Tom Bartolero - Congas Fred Ramirez - Percussion Aki Starr - Vocals Art Antonio - Lead Guitar Jordan Brysk - Bass Victor Bejarano Jr. - Drums Aidan Santa Cruz- Keyboards George Demarest- Trumpet Location: Midtown Block Party Friday's- 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA FREE SHOW!!! - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/santa-cruz/santa-cruz-latin-collective-midtown-block-party/200029813749630 - **Event Categories**: entertainment, music, art, parties, dance, fine-arts - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 56 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Santa Cruz - **state**: CA - **country**: United States - **location**: 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-2105, United States - **lat**: 36.97962 - **long**: -122.01224 - **full address**: 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-2105, United States ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/826a6a7bee5b82d3e7e87f1f772a2ad1ccae34bb9996895e6e413879426c4fc2-rimg-w1200-h801-dc070513-gmir?v=1774874976 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party being held? - **A:** Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party takes place on Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 at 08:00 pm at 1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-2105, United States. - **Q**: Who is organizing Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party? - **A:** Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party is organized by Santa Cruz Latin Collective. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party is ideal for music lovers, fans of all genres, and anyone who wants to celebrate the power of music - from intimate gigs and live sessions to festivals and cultural performances. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Santa Cruz, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. With 50+ people already showing interest, this is clearly an event worth adding to your calendar - don't miss out. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Santa Cruz Latin Collective @ Midtown Block Party", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/826a6a7bee5b82d3e7e87f1f772a2ad1ccae34bb9996895e6e413879426c4fc2-rimg-w1200-h801-dc070513-gmir?v=1774874976", "startDate": "2026-07-03T18:00:00-07:00", "endDate": "2026-07-03T20:00:00-07:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/santa-cruz/santa-cruz-latin-collective-midtown-block-party/200029813749630", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-2105, United States", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "1111 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-2105, United States", "addressLocality": "Santa Cruz", "addressRegion": "CA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "36.97962", "longitude": "-122.01224" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Santa Cruz Latin Collective is one of the Central Coast’s most exciting and authentic Latin music ensembles, delivering a powerful blend of Salsa, Latin rock, and Afro-Cuban rhythms rooted deeply in Bay Area history. The band delivers high-energy, dance-driven performances that honor the pioneers of", "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Santa Cruz Latin Collective", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/santa-cruz-latin-collective/19804907" } ] } ] ```