As the second edition of Ethno Argentina approaches, let’s take a moment to look back at the very first edition, held in January 2025. Bringing together musicians from around the globe, the inaugural event explored Argentina’s rich folk traditions, fostered cultural exchange, and created unforgettable experiences for participants and local communities alike. We spoke with Ezequiel Cottonez, one of the main organizers, about the journey that led to Ethno arriving in Argentina, the highlights of the first edition, and the vision for the future.

How did you find out about Ethno?
I first heard about Ethno around 10 years ago through a friend—who is now part of our Ethno Argentina team—Catalina Telerman. We were studying music together, and after she attended Ethno Germany, she was so excited about the experience that she told me: “You have to go!”

A few years later, in 2018, I finally contacted Ethno Bahia and had my first experience there, spending New Year’s Eve, welcoming 2019 in Bahia, Brazil. It was a life-changing experience!

After that, the pandemic put things on hold, but I remained patient. Eventually, I reconnected with the Ethno network and had the incredible opportunity to participate in Ethno Estonia through the mobility program. That was another huge step for me. Later, I attended several Ethnos (and there are a lot of more to go) and every time I came back to Argentina, I kept saying, “We should do this here!”

Why did you decide to organise Ethno in Argentina?
The main motivation was to share more than just music—it was about creating opportunities. Not only for Argentinian musicians to travel and be part of the global Ethno network, but also to welcome people from different countries to discover Argentina, its music, and its culture. We wanted to open doors for musicians to connect, learn, and experience new places while embracing the spirit of Ethno.

We had been organizing this for over a year with our incredible team: Pablo Milanesio and Catalina Telerman from Argentina, Sofia Guzmán from Chile, and Tatiana Souza from Brazil and to Victor López for his invaluable volunteer work for our team!
This was a collective effort, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of everyone involved. I also want to give special thanks to Concepción Neuling for her support within the Ethno network.

How did it go?
The first edition of Ethno Argentina was an absolute blast! It exceeded our expectations in every way. The music and the people were incredible, and our hosts were deeply engaged in the project. In fact, we were living in a recording studio and even recorded some of the songs—we hope to share them soon!

Highlights of Ethno Argentina 2025

 Community & Inclusion: One of the most important aspects for us in Argentina is the sense of community and mutual support. That’s why we organized many special activities with local communities, including a collaboration with an association that runs a protected workshop for people with disabilities and a musical exchange with sikuris, a traditional form of musical expression from northern Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.

 Workshops & Exchanges: We also held special workshops with a Suzuki method violin school for young girls, as well as a music exchange between local musicians and some of the participants of this first edition. These activities helped strengthen connections within the local music scene and allowed for beautiful cultural exchanges.

 Encounters with Local Artisans: We had the incredible opportunity to meet a talented luthier who specializes in making quenas (traditional Andean flutes), and he showed us the process of crafting them. Additionally, we spent time with a master knitter, a woman who creates beautifully colored wool using only natural dyes. These experiences were a beautiful way to connect with Argentina’s deep cultural traditions and craftsmanship.

 Free Concerts & Public Spaces: All of our concerts were free and held in public spaces, bringing together audiences of all ages and backgrounds to dance and enjoy music. We had over 1,500 spectators in our very first edition, which was incredible! The response was so positive that people are already looking forward to next year.

We truly believe that Ethno is about how we choose to connect, share, and make the world a more loving and conscious place—and we really felt we achieved that with our first edition!

We welcome everyone to visit Argentina, and we are very happy and already preparing for next year with more surprises!