Like a multi-ethnic gathering of friends, this seven member band has created a sound that evokes the early days of Latin Funk (Santana, War, etc.), while adding their own blend of Rock and Funk grooves. Lead by Nicaraguan front man German Cantillo the band has an addictive combination of Nuyorican Boogaloo, West Coast Funk and the ever present Cuban grooves engulfing the stage with monstrous horns and bass, funky breaks with furious lyrics in English and Spanish.

Relocating to Vancouver via Winnipeg in 2001, Santa Lucia LFR recorded their first album with producer Darryl Nuedorf (Sarah McLachlan, Neko Case). Officially making the band the first Rock en Español album produced in Western Canada.

2005 brought a Western Canada Music Awards nomination as a side project for Best Children’s Recording, for the song “The Hero Inside” (2004) penned for the TV cartoon series Cackleberries.

In 2006,Santa Lucia released their second full length album, “The Streets/Las Calles”with legendary producer Larry Anschell (Nickelback, Pearl Jam) from Turtle Recording Studios in White Rock, BC Canada. Santa Lucia successfully supported“The Streets/Las Calles” in 2007-2009 with countless west coast dates and major open air festivals including; Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival, as well as many out of town festivals including The Ness Creek Music Festival in Saskatchewan, Folk on the Rocks Festival in Yellowknife NWT, Victoria Jazz Festival, Edge of the World.

Because of their great appeal and versatility of their music they were welcomed in nearly every kind of festival such as Salmon Arm Blues & Roots Festival, Victoria Ska Fest and many more.. They consistently performed at rock clubs in Western Canada and the US. opening for many USA and International touring acts such as Ozomatli, Yerba Buena, Los Mococos, The Skatalites, Maxi Priest, The Cat Empire, Los Lobos and Israel’s Hadag Nahash.

CBC Radio Canada gave the single “Lupita” heavy rotation, with the band performing a show at CBC studios broadcasting the show live across Canada hosted by one of Canada’s best known news personalities Gloria Makarenko and “On the Coast”radio host Prya Ramu.

2011 Santa Lucia released their third full length album “Suppressed Anthems” a blend of horn driven music anthems with a social conscience, Unique Latin sensibilities with plenty of rock, a shot of salsa, a shed-load of funk, and some high-speed Nicaraguan cumbia..” Latin revolutionary sloganeering, global politics and clenched-fist leftist anthems all bounce over the bands leftist grooves, spreading again its unique brand of rock all over Canada.