ABOUT

Keltewe - Music from the Andes

Keltewe – Music from the Andes was formed in October 2018 following the dissolution of the South American folk group Frontera Sur. Based in Calgary, Keltewe is an artistic collective led by Chilean musicians and enriched by members from across Latin America, dedicated to performing a distinctive style of folk music known as “Andean Music” — a tradition shaped by the geography, history, and spirit of the Andes Mountains.

The name “Keltewe” is inspired by a South American bird known as Queltehue in Chile and Tero in Argentina, symbolizing the landscapes and cultural roots that deeply influence the group’s sound and identity.

The group features Walter Salva on charango, Ignacio Jara on percussion, Joaquín Gaete on winds, and Sergio Carrera on guitar. Together, they blend traditional Andean instruments such as the quena, zampoña, bombo legüero, guitar, and charango, creating a rich fusion of ancestral sounds with contemporary musical influences. 

Long before the arrival of Columbus, wind and percussion instruments were widely used across the Inca Empire, which extended through present-day Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and Argentina. With the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, European string instruments were introduced to the region and gradually adapted by Indigenous communities, giving rise to uniquely Andean instruments such as the charango and Andean mandolins.

Keltewe’s music reflects this deep cultural fusion, a sound shaped by Indigenous heritage, European influence, and African rhythms brought to the Americas. Through live performance, the group delivers an authentic Andean musical experience that celebrates tradition, identity, storytelling, and cultural connection.