ROCKLAND ​— Folk ensemble New Inca Son will bring the vibrant spirit of the Andes Mountains to life on the Strand Theatre stage, Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m.

This presentation is recommended for all ages and has an approximate running time of 60 minutes. As part of the Strand Family Series, tickets are available on a sliding scale to promote inclusivity and community connection to the arts.

New Inca Son’s musicians are natives of Peru and Bolivia who founded this group in Boston over twenty years ago.

"Their performances are characterized by high energy, a warmth of spirit, and a gift for connecting with audiences of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds," said a Strand Theatre news release.

“Son” has a double meaning. In Spanish it means “sound,” and this group recreates the sound of its forebears on instruments that were invented by the mighty Inca nation many centuries ago, according to the news release. They are also “sons” and “daughters” of the Inca people, descending from a people that, at its largest, ruled over six South American nations. Lead musician Omar entertains with pan flutes, which are considered a sacred part of Andean life and have been played for over 1000 years.

"Founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and composed of native musicians from Peru and Bolivia, New Inca Son is proud to represent the rich Indigenous traditions of the Quechua and Aymara Peoples," said the release.

The group’s mission is to share and sustain this cultural legacy by educating and inspiring audiences of all ages, and regularly collaborates with schools, libraries, performing arts centers, and cultural organizations. New Inca Son has performed on renowned stages across the United States, including appearances at both Smithsonian National Museums of the American Indian (New York City and Washington, D.C.), the Kennedy Center for the Arts, the Smithsonian FolkLife Festival, and The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

All shows in the Strand Family Series also have school-time performances, offered at no cost to local students and home-school groups. Find out more and register on the Education page of the Strand’s website.

This show is presented by Rockland Harbor Hotel, along with the Strand's supporting sponsors: OUT Maine, Allen Insurance and Financial, First National Bank, First National Wealth Management, and the Ornest Family Foundation. Grant support includes the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation, the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, and the Maine Arts Commission, which receives support in part from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Tickets for this Family Series show are sliding scale: $0-20. To buy tickets, or for more information, visit www.rocklandstrand.com or call (207) 594-0070. 

The Strand Theatre is located at 345 Main Street, Rockland.