Los Jaivas at Machu Picchu's Rockin' 100th Anniversary

Their visit marked the first time in 30 years that the band played at the Incan Citadel.

They usually spend time riffling through almost forty years worth of progressive folk songs to pick out their set list before a concert.  This time their decision was easy.

They appropriately played their “Alturas de Machu Picchu” (The Way to Machu Picchu) album from start to finish last week to honor the famed ancient ruins that inspired their work.  The late Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet and politician Pablo Neruda also influenced the album.    

They released “Alturas” in 1981 and became the first musicians in the world to play at Machu Picchu.

As the only non-Peruvian band in attendance at the Inca Citadel, Bassist Mario Mutis said he was “thrilled and proud to be invited.” He added, “It was tremendously special because Machu Picchu has been part of our work for the past 30 years.”

Some of the original members have passed away, but the deceased members’ children stepped into their fathers’ shoes years ago. Members of the band, as it is currently, include: Juanita Parra, Claudio Parra, Mario Mutis, Ankatu Alquinta, Carlos Cabezas, Francisco Bosco, and Eduardo Parro. 

Parro is batting health problems, but he made a special appearance because of “the importance of the occasion.” Fans from all over the world watched their performance live while it was streaming online. 

Now, Los Jaivas are taking their show back home to Santiago on July 15^th to blow the roof off of the Centro Cultural Amanda. Organizers said to expect the unexpected for the show.