Pipiris Nights – Venezuelan Joropo in New York

Pipiris Nights celebrates the vibrant spirit of Venezuelan joropo, led by Mafer Bandola, whose artistry blends deep tradition with contemporary energy, turning music into a living dialogue of rhythm, memory, and migration.

Admission: $20: Cover at Mezzanine.

Featuring:
Mafer bandola / Bandola y voz
Yilmer Vivas / Cuatro venezolano
Willie Quintana / Capachos
Silvestre Padrón / Bass

About Mafer Bandola:

Venezuelan-born and Brooklyn-based Mafer Bandola (María Fernanda González, she/her) is a versatile instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, and community organizer.

She has performed at prestigious venues and festivals including Mass MoCA, WOMAD, WOMEX, TED, National Sawdust, NPR Tiny Desk, Lincoln Center, Teatro Juares and Teatro Teresa Carreño in Venezuela, Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, and Paço do Frevo in Recife. As an educator, Mafer has led workshops and residencies at Dartmouth College, George Mason University, Carnegie Hall, the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance, Butler University, and Brooklyn College.

Widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost performers of the bandola llanera—a traditional four-string instrument from the Venezuelan plains—Mafer brings a fresh and original voice to a field long dominated by men. Her artistry blends deep oral traditions with contemporary influences, crafting a sound that bridges heritage and innovation.

Beyond performance, Mafer is deeply engaged in social and cultural work. She is a co-founder and performer with LADAMA, an international collective of female musicians, and the lead producer of Latínica, an online conference exploring Latinx identity and equity in the music industry. Through her creative practice, she reflects on and redefines the experience of being a Latinx woman in today’s global musical landscape.

Her latest project, Pipiris Nights, is New York City’s premier Venezuelan music and dance series. Hosted monthly at Terraza 7, Pipiris Nights celebrates the vibrant oral traditions and cultural richness of joropo, transporting the spirit of the Venezuelan plains to the heart of Brooklyn and beyond.