National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Next week some of the freshest names in new Latin music will converge on New York City for the Latin Alternative Music Conference, scheduled for July 8th—12th.

Now in its ninth year, the annual conference has emerged as the largest such gathering for Latin music anywhere, drawing hundreds of bands, solo artists, DJs, labels, managers, promoters, programmers, journalists and other industry types - not to mention thousands of fans.

This year's LAMC events will include free outdoor concerts in New York's Central Park and Brooklyn's Prospect Park, as well as showcases at such landmark venues as The Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, and S.O.B.'s.

The lineup will include Grammy-winning Mexican rocker Julieta Venegas (pictured), Mexican electro-rockers Plastilina Mosh, Chile's DJ Bitman, Cuban singer/songwriter Alex*Cuba and Mexican indie rocker Ximena Sariñana. While CuCu Diamantes of Yerba Buena and Emmanuel Horvilleur of Illya Kuryaki & the Valderramas will be stepping out from their respective groups to perform solo sets. Also on tap are such local NYC favorites as Brazilian Girls, Forro In The Dark and Ticklah.

In addition to the music, LAMC will offer a trade fair, panels, seminars, networking opportunities and two nights devoted to indie film. Film offerings will include ¿Habrán Esperanzas?, directed by Felipe Monsalve, Bragging Rights: Stickball Stories directed by Sonia N. Gonzalez, and Machito: A Latin Jazz Legacy directed by Carlos Ortiz.

And in case you can't make this year's festivities, later this fall LAMC will be returning for its second year in Mexico City September 5th and Buenos Aires on September 22th-24th.

For a complete lineup, showtimes and registration info, consult the LAMC Official Website.