SUCCESSFUL seven-piece tribute band Oye Santana are planning to make a triumphant return to Reading with a Valentine’s Day gig next year.

After a year that has seen them take their award-winning tribute to the Latin-flavoured rock of Carlos Santana all over Europe, the band will return to their roots with a special show at Sub89 on February 14, 2020.

Led by Milan ‘Carlos’ Webb on guitar, Oye Santana started out in pubs as a four-piece – with Hector Gomez on vocals, Gez Kahan on keys and Reading-based Paul ‘Murphy’ Murphy on percussion – but soon found themselves playing bigger venues.

The band expanded too - it is now seven-strong, augmented by Jon Quirk on bass, Pete Lockwood on drums and, joining Hector on vocal duties, Auriol Kobani.

The talented artists play a huge range of instruments including congas, percussion, timbales and piano, to name a few.

“While it’s like a dream come true to play to thousands at overseas festivals, nothing matters more to us than playing for our home-turf fans,” said Milan.

“They’re the ones whose support in our early days got us on to the bigger stages and who always give us a fantastic welcome when we play our local area.”

The show - part of Oye Santana’s Woodstock 50th Anniversary tour - features plenty of early Santana big hitters – Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, Jingo, Samba Pa Ti, Oye Como Va and the showstopping Soul Sacrifice among them – but not at the expense of Santana’s later chart-toppers.

As well as a healthy dose of Latin Rock tunes, audiences can expect a lively visual show as the band dedicate themselves to getting viewers on their feet dancing.

Smooth, Maria Maria, Corazon Espinado, Game of Love and She’s Not There and a host of other favourites will be played in a high-energy performance.

Oye Santana play Sub89 on February 14, 2020, at 7pm. Tickets are available online at sub89.com/listings.