A video by Tomas Uribe, photos by Giovanna Molina.

We there really is no Lady of Amaga-Ga, but after a recent visit we couldn’t help but note the similarity of this pueblo’s name and that of the global icon Lady Gaga. However, Amaga’ is is a pueblo not far from Medellin, say about 45 minutes, that is pretty old and about as far as you could get from modern Lady Gaga fashion and glam. The pueblo has some incredible hiking trails to explore and local photographer Michael Thompson who runs the Lighten Up and Shoot project recently checked out the mining town. Along the trip he passed stunning waterfalls and an old wooden bridge in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it is a home video made for friends and family, but it serves as great look into a local pueblo that attracts Medellin’s extreme sports enthusiasts.

Special thanks to Michael Thompson at Lighten Up and Shoot for the video.

Not surprisingly then, Pilsen, or “Paisa” is out in a big way during the Feria promoting, sometimes handing out free beer, and as this video shows, getting a huge flash mob of people to dance for the joy of beer. How cool is Medellin!

David  and I were having a couple of shots of Aguardiente in the park and after a few stories he tells me has a new group called Alibombo. David already plays in one band Gordo’s Project, which not too long ago won an arts scholarship from the mayor’s office, so I was intrigued by what he described as a band that does not have any recorded music. “David, that’s insane, that would be like a band without a myspace page. What’s the deal?” David noted that Alibombo is an all-percussion band that hasn’t yet recorded because they don’t want to loose their chaotic, animalistic thunder by making recordings which may not capture their ferocity. So instead they just have live performances.

Having just finished their first video, here is the world premiere of Medellin based Alibombo – stomping, drumming, and pounding straight out of the urban jungle.

“A concert at the Hotel Intercontinental? Where? In the ball room? That is where I had my senior prom,” said Nicolas. He was confused and intrigued by the rumor that there was a concert going on at the luxurious Hotel Intercontinental which sits up at the top of Las Palmas drive and overlooks all of Medellin’s glamourous south side.

“Yeah man it is no joke. It is part of the iboamericano cultural congress,” I assured him, stressing it would be a pretty interesting show. Down at the local bar the buzz was the same amongst everyone. Visiting DJs playing up at the fancy Intercontinental? No one could believe it.

So we journeyed up the mountain. The scene was not your typical electronica crowd as the event was put on in association with the Modern Art Museum (MAMM) and had a mix of high-brow art connoisseurs, invitees from the cultural congress, and die-hard techno fans. For those who dared to try out an unconventional Medellin venue, local artist Booiamrudolf, Andres Bucci from Chile, and Rec_Overflow from Spain put on an unforgettable show. It was night of the cutting edge electronica and visuals in a dimly light ball room somewhat reminscent of a Stanley Kubrick movie set.

The Medellin based 4 Ojos art project has been making legendary parties since 2008. Every six months the art collective rents out a huge house and they work night and day to turn it into a house of art; every room has paintings, art installations, or audio visuals, as well as hundreds of wild party-goers dancing all night long. There are DJs, live bands, and performance art too.

The 5th version of 4 Ojos is taking place this Friday the 25th in a monstrous 3 story house. Tickets can be purchased at the door for 20,000. Address: Calle 19 No 42 – 125

Here is a video of the last 4tro Ojos (IV) in 2009

So the new issue will be up on the website this week, perhaps as soon as tomorrow! Here is a video to tide everyone over.

For the entrepreneurial issue we wanted to showcase the business savvy for which Paisas are so well known. We thus re-imagined one of Antioquia’s most symbolic paintings, “Horizontes” (1913) or Horizons in English by Francisco A. Cano. The original painting depicts a young family seeking their future across the horizon; we wanted to update the piece with a young entrepreneurial couple in today’s world, pondering the future of Medellin in 2010 and beyond.

Francisco Cano (1913)                                                Johnny Lopera (2010)

On last week’s Prime Cuts Radio program we had Medellin musician Max in the studio to showcase an acoustic version of his song, “Wish you were here.” You can listen to the full radio show here.

Rule number one in music – Be Amazing! Germany’s Stereo Total has got that covered by all means. Mid-way through their world tour, The Arepa met up with the good humored pop duo before their show at the Modern Art Museum for an exclusive interview.

Afterwards, we got some great close up video of Stereo Total playing a packed outdoor concert!! The thirst for pogo bouncing independent electro-pop music was quenched last night. Thank you Stereo Total!

Photos and video by Robin Finley

We had the chance to bring local rappers Anijana and MC Queena into the studio to record a couple tracks for the radio show Prime Cuts Medellin. Full of energy and expression they bring powerful lyrics straight from the barrios of Medellin, Colombia. They are leaders in a booming hip hop scene that is finding more and more girls with mics in their hands.

Check out the video and give a listen to the radio show below.