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Machito – Rumba Y Bata Retreat 2026

Machito – Rumba Y Bata Retreat 2026

14th – 21st June 2026

We are honoured to host one of the world’s heavyweight Cuban drummers here at Finca Ara Oko. Barbaro Crespo aka ‘Machito’, is a ritual drummer and rumbero who comes from a dynasty of folkloric drummers in Havana. He was also a principal member of Osain del Monte before he moved to Europe.

There are  13 places available on this special retreat. To secure your place, pay a non-refundable deposit of £150 by the 1st March 2025. The final payment needs to be made by the 16th of April.

The retreat is aimed at Level 2/3 percussionists. Please see our guidelines or get in touch if you’re unsure it is suitable.

Accommodation and Prices

The price include seven nights’ accommodation, three meals a day, and five days x four hours of tuition plus practice times and the chance of a live jam session at our local bar.. (Please see below for costs not included.)

  • Earlybird rate: a non-refundable deposit of £150 paid before 1st March 2025.
  • Regular rate: a deposit paid after 1st March 2025.
  • Full payment: due by 16th of April.

SINGLE ROOM: Earlybird £925 / Regular £965

 

SHARED ROOM: Earlybird £795 / Regular £840. Each room shares 2 – 3 people.

 

GLAMPING: Earlybird £730 / Regular £770. Each tent shares with two people.

 

 

What is included:

    • 4 hours of tuition x 5 days plus practice time.
    • 7 nights accommodation.
    • 3 meals a day.
    • Accommodation – shared, single rooms or glamping.
    • Access to drums.
    • An opportunity to perform on the last night at a local bar.
    • The chance to stay in a beautiful farmhouse in the spectacular countryside away from the distractions of everyday life.

Not included:
For more information on the points below, please visit our travel information page.

    • Flights
    • Airport transfers:
    • Travel Insurance
    • Extra nights of accommodation: €50 pn
    • Extra meals: €5 -20 pd
    • Alcohol

How to book
Step 1: Fill out our registration form below. (You will be re-directed to Finca Ara Oko Website)
Step 2: Pay your deposit of £150 or make full payment by clicking on the payment link below.
Step 3: Pay the outstanding balance directly to our bank account by the date listed.
Please check we have spaces and read our Cancellation and Participation Guide before booking.

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Bombo Productions
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David Rahman
17:47 24 Mar 25
Wonderful, inspiring teachers! Dave and Vicky are experts in cuban music and are so generous with their time and knowledge. They really care about building a community of passionate musicians. With them you don't just learn rhythmic patterns; you will learn a repertoire of music that you can get together with others and actually PERFORM!
Karen Steadman
08:50 27 Mar 24
I attended Coro de Clave which is a magical bringing together of people from around Europe to sing the most beautiful Afro Cuban songs. Vicky and Dave impart their vast knowledge to the group in an accessible way, meaning that newcomers are able to join alongside more experienced singers. Makes me feel full of love every time and walking into a room of old friends from Spain, London, Oxford, Scotland etc feels like the best reunion ever.
Loz Speyer
23:57 20 Jan 24
These classes are great. Dave and Vicky cultivate a real communal experience which is what this music is all about. They bring many years' knowledge of Afrocuban rhythms and songs, and have a way of teaching at multiple levels at once so that everyone gets challenged and everyone is able to contribute to the whole. recommended!
Federica Fusco
15:43 15 Dec 22
I have been attending many percussion courses with Bombo productions over the past few years. Yesterday, we completed the Batà Course. We learnt how to play multiple toques on different drums, learning rhythmic sequences, conversations and variations, hand techniques, developing coordination, autonomy and important patterns for future improvisation. We learn how the rhythms fit with the singing and the clave. All sessions are filmed and shared privately so that you can practice at home and be ready for the next class.

Dave is an amazing teacher with huge passion, knowledge and patience. Vicky is a great musician, singer and a very inspiring thinker. They both make this learning experience special and I am so grateful for this.

This course was also for me a chance to know more people who share a similar attitude towards art, music and life. I met very special people there.

Vicky and Dave also organise music nights in London where anyone can play and apply what you have learnt in a wider context and with other amazing musicians!

So it's clear that I highly recommend bombo production to all amateurs and professional musicians :D
Geoff Baker
21:23 18 Oct 22
Vicky and Dave are true experts in Cuban music, but their courses are accessible and everyone is made to feel welcome, whatever their background, so the group is very diverse. They are great teachers – highly knowledgeable and keen to make good music, yet always with a smile and a laugh. The music is gorgeous (they make their own arrangements, so you can only get it here!) and the atmospheric rehearsal space adds to the charm. Highly recommended!
Adam robinson
18:35 13 Oct 22
It's rare to find anyone as knowledgeable as Dave and Vicky. It's even more rare to find people who are as generous and welcoming. Anyone who has an interest in Afro Cuban music will be able get involved, learn and be pushed just enough - regardless of playing ability. I couldn't recommend their courses/workshops highly enough.
ohad lustigman
19:35 07 Aug 22
Highly recommended for anyone interested in Afro Cuban folkloric music, Bata or Salsa.

Dave and Vicky have figured out the perfect formula to share their very deep knowledge in a really fun and relaxed but also intensive and challenging way.

In both their online courses and face to face workshops, they are making sure to gently push you a bit further from where you are at -whether a total beginner or an advanced player.

Only thing to be aware of is that this might be addictive.
Mariya
20:37 08 May 22
Over the past couple of years I have taken a number of courses with Bombo Productions and also attended their folkloric Afro-Cuban percussion retreat in Spain last year and I have to say that learning percussion with Vicky and Dave has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Dave and Vicky are wonderful teachers and people, who love sharing their knowledge and passion for music. I feel so much joy and gratitude after every class I take with them!

Most recently, I attended the Level 2 in-person Salsa course offered by Dave. What I love about Dave’s salsa classes is that we get to learn a bit of each instrument in the percussion section. While I only have congas at home and the congas are (perhaps) the instrument I am most interested in, I always wanted to understand how the congas interact with the other percussion instruments. And I love it that I can now play a bit on the other instruments. And I absolutely love it that when I listen to salsa music, i can now distinctly hear the timbales, the bongos and the congas… it feels great. Thank you, Dave!
The other thing I really enjoy about the salsa classes is that we don’t just learn patterns on the instruments, but we apply these to a specific song/arrangement prepared by Dave; as such we also learn to listen to (and play) the breaks, changes in clave, etc.

I can’t speak highly enough of Dave and Vicky’s classes – whether these are salsa, batá, rumba or coro. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
simon todd
18:17 29 Apr 22
10/10 Salsa level 2 course!
Seriously If you want to learn and understand Salsa music, arrangements, technique and the secrets of this Afro-Cuban music style, Dave Pattman is the man. Over the years I've done workshops with Dave and always been a great and rewarding experience.
Very warm, friendly and energetic teacher, with extensive knowledge of this music.
Can't recommend the course enough, Sometimes the courses run in a nice little studio in central Hackney or online over a 6 week period. New to online lessons it didn't take long to get into it, you get an upload of the lesson which is great, and the arrangement, with minus one options of instruments.
Also Dave encourages you to send in videos of your playing with the tracks , so you really get a lot for your money.
Prices are very reasonable for such high level tuition.
This side of Havana Bombo productions is the place to go if you want to learn the real essence of Afro Cuban drumming, music and culture.
Dave Longman
10:59 29 Apr 22
I attended a level 2 salsa percussion course.
The course content was perfect for me as I have covered the basics so many times. In these sessions, we used the patterns to build up 2 different salsa arrangements which was just what I needed - a real-life context in which to play the instruments. This was all supported with shared resources including minus-one tracks to play along at home.

There were new patterns/techniques to learn for all the instruments - congas, bongo, timbales and guiro

The tutor had a wonderful, relaxed manner and was encouraging and supportive, while also finding ways to push our different ability levels.

I would definitely attend another course sometime.