Buena Vista Live brings a seven-piece Cuban band to Worthing's Assembly Hall on Friday 15 January 2027 at 7.30pm: son, bolero, mambo and salsa, from £23.75.

A Cuban music show that has played Ronnie Scott’s in London is coming to Worthing’s Assembly Hall on Friday 15 January 2027 at 7.30pm. Buena Vista Live is a seven-piece band working through the music of Havana’s clubs: son, bolero, mambo and salsa, with some storytelling between the songs and projected visuals behind the band.

Tickets are on sale through Worthing Theatres and Museum, from £23.75 plus a £1.75 transaction fee (checked on 19 October 2026). The venue lists the show at about 120 minutes and suitable for all ages.

What the show is

The production is not trying to be the original band. “This is not a tribute show,” the company says in its release. What it offers instead, in its own words, is “the irresistible sounds, rhythms and spirit of Cuba”, combining “the timeless sounds of son, bolero, mambo and salsa with engaging storytelling and immersive visual production”.

Two singers from Buena Vista Live performing at microphones in front of a screen reading Buena Vista, with the band behind them
Two of the singers out front, with the band and the Buena Vista screen behind. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live

The songbook leans on the numbers that became famous through the Buena Vista Social Club recordings. The company’s brochure copy names Chan Chan, El Cuarto de Tula, Candela and Dos Gardenias among them, and describes the range as running “from the romance of bolero to the vibrant energy of mambo and salsa, and the soulful sway of Son”.

Zal Jones, director of Buena Vista Live, says the show is aimed at “audiences who love jazz, world music and the enduring legacy of the original Buena Vista Social Club recordings.”

A singer and a guitarist in white hats sharing the front of the stage, with a conga player to the right
A singer and a guitarist at the front of the stage, with the congas to the right. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live

Who is in the band

The line-up on stage, as the photographs show, is a grand piano, double bass, drum kit, congas, guitar, trumpet and singers. According to the company, it is “an accomplished seven-piece band featuring musicians with links to the original Buena Vista Social Club musicians”. Its press release goes further, saying the players “have played alongside original members of the Buena Vista Social Club”.

A singer in a patterned dress and a dancer in a pale shirt dancing at the front of the stage while a guitarist plays
Dancing at the front of the stage while the guitarist plays. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
The full Buena Vista Live band on stage, with a singer in a patterned dress at the centre microphone
The band on stage, with the double bass, guitar and drums behind the lead singer. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live

The Ronnie Scott’s connection

The theatre tour follows a run at the London jazz club. Following four sold-out performances at Ronnie Scott’s, the company says, “the production is expanding its UK tour”. Its release adds that the show has signed exclusively with Ronnie Scott’s.

The company also points to demand for this music more widely, noting that “a similar Buena Vista-inspired production” has been playing on Broadway.

A singer in a white headwrap and white dress smiling at the microphone under blue stage light
A singer in a white headwrap at the microphone under blue light. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
Buena Vista Live performing on a small club stage under blue light, with a trumpet, drums and a singer in white
The band on a club stage, with trumpet, drums and a singer in white. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live

Watch the trailer

The Buena Vista Live trailer. Video: supplied by Buena Vista Live
Wide view of the whole band on stage under red lights with the Buena Vista screen above
The whole band on stage, under red lights. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
A conga player in a white hat playing at the front of the stage, with a double bass player behind
The conga player at the front of the stage. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
A pianist in a hat at a grand piano, with the drummer and other players in the background
The pianist at the grand piano. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
The band on stage seen from behind the grand piano, with a singer in a patterned dress on the right
The stage seen from behind the piano. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
Buena Vista Live on a wide stage under red lights, a singer and guitarist at the front and a conga player on the right
Singer, guitarist and conga player across the front of the stage. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
Black and white photograph of a trumpeter in a white hat playing, with a double bass behind him
The trumpeter, with the double bass behind. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
Black and white photograph of two singers at microphones on stage, with a double bass player at the back
Two singers at their microphones. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
Black and white photograph of two performers dancing on stage while a guitarist and a conga player play
Dancing on stage between the guitarist and the conga player. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live
Black and white photograph of a guitarist in a white hat and sunglasses playing on stage
The guitarist in a white hat and sunglasses. Photo: Irene Guinta, supplied by Buena Vista Live

Going

  • When: Friday 15 January 2027, 7.30pm
  • Where: Assembly Hall, Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing
  • Tickets: from £23.75 plus a £1.75 transaction fee, from wtm.uk or the box office on 01903 206206
  • Length: about 120 minutes
  • Age guidance: suitable for all ages
  • More about the show: buenavistalive.com

For what else is on in town, see What’s On in Worthing.

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