Carlos Varela Postpones Miami Concerts Amidst Unprecedented Visa Delay
Cuban singer-songwriter Carlos Varela has been forced to postpone his November 14 and 15 performances at the Flamingo Theater in Miami due to a delay in his U.S. work visa approval. The artist, a mainstay of Cuban Nueva Trova music for nearly four decades, received the news after waiting over a month for a response from the United States consulate in Madrid.
This marks the first time Varela has encountered such significant delays in obtaining a U.S. visa, a process he undertakes annually. The cancellations impact fans who had purchased tickets months in advance and cast uncertainty over a planned November 21 concert in New Jersey. Varela maintains dates for December 19 and 20, expressing hope for a swift resolution.
“I carry out this procedure every year and this is the first time something like this happens to me,” Varela stated on his Facebook page. “It’s very unfortunate.” He acknowledged the disruption to fans’ plans, adding, “my team, my musicians and I were ready and remain prepared to resume the tour, as soon as the visa is confirmed.”
The postponed Miami shows were to be part of a larger tour supporting Varela’s latest album, Nothing is like before, released in november 2023. The album, recorded in Madrid, explores themes of change, emigration, and nostalgia, and represents Varela’s ninth studio recording. Prior to the U.S. leg, Varela presented the album on June 21 at the Sala Capitol in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, reconnecting wiht his family’s ancestral roots. he had previously shared his enthusiasm for “returning to the land of my grandparents” where he penned his song “Monedas al aire” 35 years ago.
