Leading Dominican bachata musicians will gather in Jarabacoa on Sunday, November 8, for a major concert titled El Super Ultra Mega Bachatazo. The event is scheduled to begin at 12:00 noon at La Confluencia, one of the primary tourist destinations in the highland municipality.
The performance brings together artists representing several generations of the genre, spanning early pioneers of bachata through to contemporary performers, in a day dedicated to Dominican music and national culture.
Among the confirmed headline acts are two founding figures of the style, Luis Segura, known to audiences as El Añoñaíto, and José Manuel Calderón. The veteran roster also features singer Ramón Torres, known as El Poeta, alongside Edilio Paredes and Davicito Paredes.
Bachata emerged in the Dominican Republic during the early 1960s, developing from rural acoustic guitar traditions and romantic boleros into a defining national art form. Calderón is widely recognized for recording some of the genre's earliest commercial singles in 1962, while Segura spent decades popularising its heartfelt melodies across the Caribbean and Latin America. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization inscribed bachata on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019.
Contemporary stars and festival lineup
The festival roster also features several prominent modern hitmakers, including El Chaval de la Bachata, Luis Miguel del Amargue, Teodoro Reyes, Allendy, and Eudis, known as El Invencible. Organizers confirmed that El Chaval de la Bachata will serve as one of the central attractions of the Sunday gathering.
The concert lineup continues with appearances by Marino Castellano, El Gringo de la Bachata, Wellington Toribio, Nacho Estrella, and Alexi Gómez. Rounding out the list of bachata performers are Luis Alberto, nicknamed El Redondo de la Bachata, Edwin, known as El Ciclón de la Bachata, and Joaquín Durán, performing under the name Bachasuin.
Acclaimed merengue artist Ramón Orlando Valoy will take part in the concert as a special guest performer. Orlando, an influential pianist, arranger, and bandleader, introduces a distinct sound from the country's fast-tempo dance heritage to the celebration.
Merengue stands alongside bachata as one of the foundational genres of Dominican popular music, characterised by rapid percussion, brass arrangements, and lively dance rhythms. Orlando gained national prominence in the late twentieth century as an accomplished pianist, arranger, and orchestra director, contributing numerous hit compositions to the country's musical history.
Government support and tourism goals
Organizers highlighted that the concert is designed to promote bachata following its recognition by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, while also boosting tourism and commercial activity in Jarabacoa.
The production has secured high-level state backing, receiving the endorsement of Dominican President Luis Abinader. The Ministry of Tourism acts as the primary sponsor for the gathering, alongside support from private businesses, public institutions, and local municipal authorities.
Located in the central mountain region of La Vega province, Jarabacoa is known across the Dominican Republic for its cool climate, pine-covered hills, and ecotourism. The concert venue, La Confluencia, is a scenic public park formed where the Yaque del Norte and Jimenoa rivers meet, ranking among the municipality's premier tourist attractions.
The festival is scheduled to open at midday on Sunday, offering attendees a full day dedicated to Dominican musical heritage through performances by more than a dozen confirmed acts.
