Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Looking to travel to a far away land on a local budget this summer? Catch one of Puerto Vallarta’s most exotic bands, Katmandu, at the Paradise Community Center on Friday, August 5, at 6:00 pm.

Katmandu consists of Rhonda Padmos, Don Pope, Oscar Terrazas, Chuy Estrada, and Marcos Milagres. This east/west fusion band features Don Pope playing the sitar, a traditional guitar-like instrument from India.

Katmandu was originally formed in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1983.(“Katmandu” is the correct spelling for this Nepalese capital city in Spanish.) On August 5, you can expect to hear traditional songs from India, Greece, Saudia Arabia, Yeman, and Cambodia, as well as many Jazz and Indian fusion songs. Plus, Katmandu shows their versatility by throwing in Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Donovan hits. These groups helped to introduce sitar music to the West in the 1960s and ‘70s.

This Katmandu performance is a part of the Paradise Community Center’s “Starry Nights Concert Series,” which also brought acclaimed local guitarist Eduardo Leon to the stage last month.

Next month, Starry Nights (the first Friday of every month) will host “Singin’ in the Rain,” a karaoke event. At all Starry Nights’ concerts, there are drinks, food, and desserts available for purchase. An exotic Mediterranean meal will be prepared to accompany Katmandu on August 5.

Tickets are $100 pesos and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Paradise Community Center box office, located at Pulpito #127, between Amapas and Olas Altas, or Deja New Consignment, Jacarandas #280 on the south side of Vallarta.

For more information, please visit ParadiseCommunityCenter.com. or Katmandu’s webpage, MusicDonRhonda.Blogspot.com.

Remember that the Paradise Community Center is a non-profit organization, and they funnel the proceeds from their events to CompassioNet Impact.

CompassioNet provides hot meals, clothes, books, English classes, loans, and more to impoverished families in Puerto Vallarta. If you would like to donate time or money to CompassioNet, please visit 4Compassion.org.