ORKESTA MENDOZA brings its heady mix of cumbia, mambo, indie and psychedelia – all in well-cut suits – to the region later this month.

The band’s brash, widescreen style and witty reference to 1960s instrumental pop is both effortlessly classy and enormous fun.

Orkesta Mendoza is led by Mexican American kingpin Sergio Mendoza who is also a member and co-producer of Tucson music legends Calexico and arranger and founder member of Mexrrissey.

Born in Nogales, Arizona and raised in Nogales, Sonora, Mendoza now lives back in Arizona. But the music he and his band make isn’t Mexican or American. Blending cumbia and mambo with psychedelic rock, polka, country and electronica, Orkesta Mendoza imagines what Nogales would sound like if the border didn’t exist.

Focused, fierce and beautifully executed by a superbly drilled set of musicians dressed in their uniform of black suits and sunglasses, the band look like nothing so much as the Blues Brothers playing at a Day of the Dead party.

They appear at Gateshead Sage as part of a national tour in support of their recent critically acclaimed release Vamos a Guarachar!

For more information, visit The London Latin Music Festival website at www.lalineafestival.com n Orkesta Mendoza, Sage Gateshead, April 24, 8pm, Tickets £14.70. Box office: 0191 443 4661