I attended the third and final night of Vancouver-based band Empanadas Ilegales’ three-night run at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on August 6, 2026.
The show was originally supposed to take place outdoors on the NAC rooftop, but with the threat of rain, the performance was moved indoors.
Thankfully, the change of venue didn’t take away from the energy of the night.
Empanadas Ilegales put on a wonderful set filled with psych-cumbia, Latin jazz, tropical grooves and instrumental music.
Their sound was lively, colourful and incredibly danceable, making it hard to stand still throughout the performance.
The band also previewed material from their upcoming album, LABORATORIO TROPICAL, which is set for release on August 28, 2026, via We Are Time.
The new material offered a great taste of what’s to come while fitting naturally into their vibrant live set.
Overall, it was a great night of music and dancing.
Empanadas Ilegales brought plenty of rhythm and good vibes to the National Arts Centre, turning the rainy-weather venue change into a memorable evening.
Check out the gallery from Empanadas Ilegales’ set below.
