District residents gathered at Anthem Row on Sept. 14 to watch live music at GoGo & Cumbia, an event highlighting the vibrant go-go and cumbia music scenes in Washington and the active community of artists. 

DowntownDC and the Go-Go Museum and Café hosted the event. The groups Queens of Go-Go and The Experience Band and Show performed beneath The Prism, an aerial art installation that basked the performers in hues of pink and violet. Go-go has been the official music of Washington since 2020, according to a press release from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office. 

Artists Yeison Landero and Sabrosónicos brought cumbia to the crowd. Cumbia is a style of music that originated in Colombia and blends African, Amerindian and European styles, according to a 2021 MasterClass article. It uses drums, flutes, maracas and accordions. In between acts, go-go artist The Legendary DJ Kool kept spirits high, and Washingtonians danced to his music. 

Edited by Natalie Monga, Ben Ackman, Caleb Ogilvie and Kalie Walker.