Sweet SantaFe, a duo featuring Michel Rivero from Havana, Cuba and Christine Baxter from Alberta, Canada. They combine rich warm vocal harmonies, Caribbean rhythms, and Canadian folk style songwriting, to transport audiences to a sunny beach with a gentle breeze drifting off the azure ocean. They spread their infectiously upbeat vibe in both Spanish and English bringing a live music show that brings joy to their audiences. After several Western Canadian Tours, Sweet SantaFe has shown time and time again their ability to draw the audience in with their stories and lyrics. They have been dubbed as a “local treasure” by Doug Cox the Artist Director of Vancouver Island Music Festival. Doug Pickard, Owner of Ground Zero has featured Sweet SantaFe touting their shows as “an absolute delight.” saying “Their ability to interact with the audience is unique and refreshing.” and “It’s impossible not to smile and move your body while taking in a Sweet Santa Fe show. Truly an experience not to be missed. ” Sweet SantaFe brings a new blend to Latin music in Canada and with the collaborated efforts of Miguelito Valdes, Cynthia Rodrigues and Hector Ramos Sweet SantaFe's live music show as a full band gets audiences on their feet and keeps them dancing all night long. Their debut album has been played across college radio, charting in the #1 spot in world music on CFBX in Kamloops. They have been interviewed by interviews on CBC radio, No Strings attached and Talk N Tunes and have performed live on CITR The Medicine Show at UBC in Vancouver, CFUV in Victoria and CHLY in Nanaimo. 2020 has brought many challenges, Sweet SantaFe has continued to write and record single after single to raise the human spirit. In March 2021 Sweet SantaFe release a 3 song EP with accompanying videos where they write about family, hope and joy. “Dichoso” a Spanish word that means fortunate. "Fragile" a song dedicated to families dealing with dementia, and "Havana Te Quiero" a celebration of the City Michel calls home.
We respectfully acknowledge that the Filberg Festival takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks First Nation, Gila 'kasla...Hay ch q'a'.
