Queen Victoria Gardens

‘El Gran Mono meets Bellaqueo’

Colombia’s Picó sound system culture is set to rumble the concrete on a summer’s day at the pavilion

Picó are huge, hand-painted fluorescent speaker stacks that blast tropical music in cities such as Barranquilla, Cartagena and Santa Marta. Now Picó sound system culture is arriving direct from Colombia’s Caribbean coast to send bass ripples through the MPavilion pond.  

El Gran Mono is Melbourne/Naarm’s own picó, painted by the great Colombian sound system artist William “El Maestro” Gutierrez. It’s the first of its kind to be built outside of Colombia and—thanks to party-focused producers, Bellaqueo—it’s going to be pumping with live performances and DJs. 

Featuring sets from DJs Walla C, Mad Rhythm B2B Zafiro, Slim Shady, and Lorena Lee—known for their high-energy mixes of reggaeton and tropical beats—Anonymous Rappers with their full dance crew, and Cris Gamble bringing his unique blend of hip-hop and Latin urban.    

Get down for a warm afternoon of reggaeton, dembow, and Latin hip-hop, and bounce on into the evening. 

Collaborators 

El Gran Mono, or ‘The Great Ape’, is a vibrant embodiment of Colombian sound system culture. Decorated with animals, aeroplanes, dragons, revolutionary figures or other psychedelic scenes, each picó sound system has its own unique identity. 

This unique picó sound system, the first built outside Colombia, pays tribute to the original systems while also aiming to bring the culture into the international spotlight. Since its inception, El Gran Mono has participated in acclaimed events such as RISING and Vivid, showcasing upbeat tropical music that spans various styles, including champeta, cumbia, and afrobeat, inviting local and global audiences to immerse themselves in the vibrant sounds of Colombia. 

Bellaqueo was founded with the mission of curating unique reggaeton, dembow, Latin hip-hop, and neo-perreo events in Melbourne. Since its inception, Bellaqueo has made a name for itself within both the Latino diaspora and the Australian music scene. Its signature is delivering immersive experiences through a meticulously curated lineup of top-tier music selectors, primarily showcasing talented Latino DJs and artists.