A special edition of Lula's Cuban Fridays featuring special guest pianist, singer and composer Andy Rubal joining us direct from Montreal as part of the 2025 Lulaworld Festival. Featuring a beginner salsa lesson by Afro Latino Dance and DJ Suave.
Arrive between 7pm and 8pm to indulge in a delectable three-course dinner and explore the Lula carefully curated bar menu, featuring our signature tropical cocktails. The dance lesson at 9pm will ease you into the Latin groove, preparing you for a night of dancing to the tropical rhythms of one of Lula's world-famous live salsa orchestras, performing two sets starting at 10pm and midnight.
ANDY RUBAL
Blending the infectious rhythms of salsa and timba with the smooth sensibility of Montreal’s jazz and pop scene, Andy’s music is a dynamic expression of his Cuban roots reimagined for a global stage. His velvety vocals and masterful piano work are woven into rich arrangements that speak to dancers and dreamers alike—music full of joy, heart, and groove.
Andy began his musical journey in Cuba at just six years old as a singer with the group Baby Salsa. He went on to study classical piano and earned a degree in composition from Havana’s Instituto Superior de Arte in 2013. As music director for Waldo Mendoza and touring collaborator with flutist Orlando “Maraca” Valle, Andy toured Europe and the U.S., while also working as an arranger for artists including Raúl Paz, Juan Guillermo, and Gabriel Tchiema.
His 2016 debut album El que Busca Encuentra (EGREM) earned a nomination for Best Salsa Album by a New Artist at the 2017 Cuba Disco Awards. Since relocating to Montreal, Andy has built a strong presence, performing at major venues like Upstairs Jazz Bar & Grill and the Festival Nuits d’Afrique. In 2023, he headlined Nuits de la Havane at the Casino de Montréal.
His 2022 EP 75° featured a duet with Florence K and continued his upward trajectory with the breakout hit Enamorado en Montréal , now with over 16,000 streams. With two new singles, Cantarle Un Son and Caminando Va , already racking up 60,000 streams and 200,000 YouTube views, Andy is poised for a major breakthrough with a full-length album in 2025—one that fuses the soul of Cuba with the sonic palette of his adopted home.
CAFE CUBANO
Led by piano player Jorge Betancourt and featuring some of the city's top players, Cafe Cubano was one of the first all-Cuban, full salsa bands formed in Canada. The group has spawned numerous other projects and continues to be a trailblazer in Toronto’s timba scene.
Born in Camangüey, Cuba, the son of a famous symphonic orchestra conductor, Jorge Betancourt began his career with Charanga 86 before going on to work with Orquesta Trinima, Salsometro and the influential Valentine y los del Caribe. In Canada, he has earned a reputation for his animated stage presence and an inventive fusion of salsa, RnB, funk and timba with traditional son and guaracha forms.
Dine & dance the night away
For the ultimate night out, look no further than our $69* dinner prix fixe! Ticket purchase not required to book for dinner. Instead visit
https://www.lula.ca/reservations and reserve your spot. See less
You may also like the following events from Lulaworld:
Also check out other
Entertainment events in Toronto,
Music events in Toronto,
Dance events in Toronto.
