Axé Summer WorldFest brings free global music to NAC Wood Terrace for three days

The National Arts Centre is bringing back Axé Summer WorldFest, a celebration of global music and culture that takes over the Wood Terrace for three days.

On Thursday, July 16, from 7 PM, the terrace will fill with free beats and sunset views. Yeison Landero, a cumbia virtuoso and grandson of the legendary Andrés Landero, headlines the opening night with special guests Afrosound and Lady La Profeta.

Yeison Landero carries the fire of a tradition born on Colombia's Caribbean Coast. At seven years old, he became his grandfather's student, inheriting the soul of a troubadour and mastery of the accordion. His journey has been about preserving cumbia and bringing it to new audiences worldwide.

Afrosound emerged in the 1970s as a revolutionary force, blending cumbia with distorted guitars, wah-wah effects, and synthesizers—a psychedelic tropical sound that remains unparalleled five decades later. Lady La Profeta, born in Cali and the 2023 World Poetry Slam Champion, brings poetry and song to the stage, celebrating Latino and immigrant stories through performance.

Access the Wood Terrace directly from Elgin Street, the canal, or the Mackenzie King Bridge. Admission is free, but space is limited to 400 guests—arrive early and bring a chair. For anyone arriving after capacity is reached, an overflow seating area will be available.