EASTON, Pa. — Let's face it, we could all use a little "Sol" during the cold winter months.
Sol Katana, a Latin funk/rock band based in the Poconos, will bring some warmth and cheer to Black and Blue (683 Walnut St.) on Friday, Dec. 15.
The five-member band will perform a 20-song set at the restaurant's Ugly Christmas Sweater bash beginning at 8 p.m.
From the theatre to song
Sol Katana frontman Michael Lloret, who has been performing as a solo artist for over a decade, formed the group after relocating back to Pennsylvania from Manhattan in 2020.
An alumnus of East Stroudsburg University, Lloret was studying theatre and opera in the Big Apple, and in 2018 starred in an off-Broadway one-man show dubbed "Man Up."
"It was a short run and some of the positive reviews that came from that were of my singing. People wanted to know if I had an album or any music out," he said.
The praise inspired Lloret, so he started developing his sound while hitting up venues and open-mic nights in New York's five boroughs.
"One of my real first-paying gigs was scheduled one night before everything got shut down for COVID," he said. "I showed up with my guitar in my hands. And they said, 'Unfortunately, we're closing for the night because no one is here.'"
As the live music scene reemerged, Lloret, who is of Colombian and Puerto Rican descent, began rebuilding a fanbase in the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley — specifically in Allentown.
"Performing in Allentown helped me develop my Latin sound...it gave me the confidence to play Latin music for an audience in smaller venues," he explained.
"Normally, in the Pocono and Lehigh Valley scene, if you're playing bars or restaurants, people really enjoy [hearing] cover songs. It's normally like top 40 kind of alternative rock, and I'm with that, but I wanted to make my own spin, so I chose to perform alternative rock from Latin America as well."
Juanes meets Harry Styles
Along with Lloret's original material (with English and Español letras) Sol Katana's setlist showcases his wide vocal range and the band's magnetic energy.
Come Friday, expect to hear covers from Latin rockers, Juanes and Los Enanitos Verdes mixed in with the likes of Harry Styles and Bruno Mars.
"I don't want to be like just stuck in one type of music. If you come to our show, you'll hear different types of genres that are just seamlessly blend together."Michael Lloret, Sol Katana
While he admits a few venues have shied away from having them cover bilingual beats, most bar owners — and patrons — welcome the diverse sounds.
"Even in other bands that I was a part of we tried digging more into the Latin sound, and it seemed to just fit because the music is really joyous," Lloret said. "It's really upbeat, people can just groove to it whether they understand [the language] or not."
Supporting Latino-owned businesses
Lloret is excited to bring the band to the Valley, along with supporting Latino-owned businesses such as Black and Blue.
The eatery, which opened in 2011, is operated by Marcel Bedoya, who hails from Colombia and co-owns another Easton spot, Terra Cafe (321 Northampton St.).
Lloret looks forward to playing in the Valley, a melting pot of different cultures.
"I think the Lehigh Valley in general, because we're so close to New York City, has a nice blend of the Nuyorican vibe that has definitely inspired [the area] to cook with a little more flavor," Lloret said, reflecting on a recent performance with the group in Brooklyn.
Entry to the Black and Blue is free on Friday.
For info on Sol Katana, click here.
