By Olivia Piché
“The technicians were really excited and impressed because they’d never recorded this type of music. They didn’t know about it, and they grew with us,” she says.
The technicians weren’t the only ones exposed to the rhythms and traditions of Venezuelan folk music for the first time. La Parranda’s debut album reached a whole new audience, thanks to funding from Calgary Arts Development through the Artist Development Microgrant.
Formed in 2013, originally as a community project, La Parranda is a Calgary-based Venezuelan folk ensemble. The group consists of about 10 singers and four to five percussionists and instrumentalists; it varies between weekly meet-ups and seasons.
Marcano, who is also part of the artistic direction and co-ordinating teams, says recording and releasing an album had always been a dream, but it wasn’t possible because of the significant financial investments required for quality recording sessions. The Calgary Arts Development grant changed that.
“This was huge; something really, really important for us, and a big step. We’ve been growing, but this was the greatest challenge, and it’s been the greatest project we’ve had so far,” says Marcano.
La Parranda released its album, ECOS, at a launch event in December 2025, attended by about 300 people. The grant helped support the entire project, from recording and release to marketing and promotion. Thanks to digital marketing campaigns, presentations and performances, the album was well received, helping La Parranda’s audience to skyrocket.
La Parranda’s social channels doubled in followers, and the ensemble’s music reached countries across the globe. And here in Calgary, people from outside the Venezuelan community showed up to support the album launch, amplifying the ensemble’s mission to share culture, tradition and good music with new audiences.
Marcano adds that it’s been a great opportunity for group members. While most of the percussionists and instrumentalists are professional musicians, many of the singers are not.
“This money has allowed us to fulfil all these different steps, but also to reach levels that we hadn’t thought we could before,” says Marcano. “The group is incredibly proud. The singers are not all professional musicians, but it’s been a big step for them to become part of this professional project.”
ECOS has seven tracks — some original and others a take on traditional folk songs — that share Venezuelan cultural traditions with listeners. “It is diverse in rhythms and also diverse in themes,” says Marcano. “It tries to honour the specific cultural events that happen in the country.”
La Procesion de San Juan, for example, reflects on Fiesta de San Juan, which is celebrated on June 24 and blends religious traditions and Afro-Venezuelan celebrations. The album is rooted in Afro-Venezuelan rhythms, with an emphasis on percussion and vocals.
“This grant allows us to grow and to show what we wanted to the city and to the communities. It also allows us to create this cultural bridge,” says Marcano. “[It makes Calgary] stronger, better and much more diverse. As a city that is growing constantly, it’s important to grow artistically as well, with the contribution of all the communities.”