About The LUKAS

The LUKAS is Europe's Latin Entertainment Awards, celebrating the growing global impact of Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese contribution to music, dance, arts and sport.

Created by the UK’s leading Latino publication, LatinoLife - in print (www.issuu.com/latinolife) and online (www.latinolife.co.uk), The LUKAS is a fantastic, colourful, and entertaining celebration of Europe’s rapidly growing passion for all things Latino, featuring outstanding Latin artists and sports personalities – celebrities and athletes from the stage, stadiums and sports fields – and international stars.

SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON LATIN ENTERTAINMENT IN EUROPE

Each year, the public are invited to nominate and then vote for its favourite Latin artists and sports personalities. The winners are decided by 50% public vote and 50% vote by panels of expert judges in each field. (see voting rules here) Each year 1 million  votes are cast and we reach 10 million people via the social networks and media coverage as audiences in Latin America, Europe, the US and the UK campaign and vote for their favourite candidates.

Previous attendees/winners include international Latin pop stars Grupo Niche, Gente de Zona, Marc Anthony, Juan Luis Gerra, Manuel Turizo, world Cup footballers Luis Suarez (Liveropol), Antonio Valencia (ManU), Chicharito Hernandez (ManU) and Ossie Ardiles (Lifetime Achievment) Royal Ballet stars Carlos Acosta, Fernando Montaño, Tamara Rojo, guitarist and producer Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), style icon  Bianca Jagger and even political leaders such as Boris Johnson (current Prime Minister) and Jeremy Corbyn (former leader of the opposition). The LUKAS has discovered many more previously unknown stars and thrown them into the spotlight. LUKAS winners are invited to perform the following year at LatinoLife in the Park, London's biggest Latin festival, in front of 30k audience www.latinolifeinthepark.co.uk

THE GALA CEREMONY

This public engagement culminates in the fabulous LUKAS Gala Ceremony - a unique entertainment and networking event, broadcast from London and attended by artists, sports and TV personalities and politicians as well as Entertainment industry and business leaders. View photos from previous year's here

 

THE LUKAS TEAM

Amaranta Wright - Founder and Managing Director

Amaranta Wright is a journalist, author, magazine editor and social entrepreneur. Born in Buenos Aires, Amaranta Wright came to the UK from Argentina at the age of six, and grew up in North London. After attending Fortismere Comprehensive and then reading Modern History at Oxford University, she returned to her birthplace and  became news correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, San Francisco Chronicle, The Scotsman, and The Toronto Globe and Mail and was short-listed for The Jane Packenham Journalism award.

Amaranta then worked for Levi Strauss in a job that took her across Latin America researching youth culture. She wrote about her experience in a critically acclaimed book 'Ripped and Torn: Levi's, Latin America and The Blue Jean Dream' published by Random House, which is now being made into a film. In 2012 Amaranta founded LatinoLife – now the UK’s leading Latino lifestyle magazine in print (www.issuu.com/latinolife) and online www.latinolife.co.uk. She founded and co-produces LatinoLife in the Park, the UK's biggest Latin Festival (www.latinolifeinthepark.co.uk) and LoLaMC, The London Latin Music Conference (www.lolamc.co.uk). THE LUKAS is the brainchild of herself and Jose Luis, London’s leading Latin events promoter.

Jose Luis Seijas – Event and Music Director

Since his arrival from Caracas 20 years ago, Jose Luis has established himself as one of Europe's leading Latin DJs and events promoters, and has become a central reference point for Britain's Latino community. He pioneered the Urban Latin music and club movement in Europe, taking his creation, La Bomba – the UK’s most successful Latin club night at the Ministry of Sound – to Ibiza and Germany, South Africa and Hong King. As well as starting some of London’s most innovative club nights, Jose Luis has directed the UK's biggest Latin festivals, such as Latin Splash, Carnaval del Pueblo and the Latin Stage at The Notting Hill Carnival. Jose Luis also specializes in consulting and marketing for Latino brands in the UK. Rooted in a deep love of Latin music, years of expertise and loyalty to his roots, Jose Luis always has his finger on the Latin pulse. In addition to The LUKAS, Jose Luis co-produces LatinoLife in the Park, and LoLaMC, The London Latin Music Conference.

Steve Lewinson - Musical Director

Steve Lewinson is a musician, producer, songwriter, composer and musical director, who has worked with some of the world's most artistically and commercially successful artists, including Herbie Hancock, Annie Lennox, Massive Attack, Amy Winehouse, George Michael, Sade, Kylie Minogue, Anita Baker and Jimmy Cliff and Simply Red. He has contributed to many award winning records, as well as to film soundtracks and theatre and opera productions. Steve also acts as a creative consultant, helping organisations to recognise and develop new opportunities for growth around msuical quality. He has been a LUKAS partner since 2015.

Advisory Board

Phil Manzanera: Musician and Producer

Lisa Lugo: Vice President Marketing, Live Nation

Rafe Offer: Founder and CEO, Sofar Sounds

Marcelo Perez: Marketing Solcutions, Sony Music

Sofia Varona: marketing solutions - Universal Music

WHY WE DID IT

Do you know a pub without its Salsa night, a gym without a Zumba class, or a neighbourhood without a Tapas bar? Whether its footballers in our Premier League, Brazilian beats in the coolest club nights or...well just the world's most listened to pop stars, Latin influence and creativity is everywhere… we even dominate Saturday night television with our fantastic Latin dances. Luso-Hispanic culture has been influencing global society for several decades now, it's time to celebrate the diverse Latin genres and achievements under one umbrella, in their own context and, most importantly, judged by the public who have authentic passion and experts who have real knowledge. This is our labour of love and we want to share it with you.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

"I had a wonderful time at the LUKAS Award evening. Thank you for all your efforts. It meant a lot to me to receive the LUKAS ’Lifetime Achievement Award’ for Contribution to Human Rights."  Bianca Jagger

 

" The LUKAS  are doing a great job celebrating and rewarding the talent and efforts of our cultures" in the UK and Europe," says JUANES, multi Grammy award winner and currently the world's most popular all-Spanish speaking artist.

"! was absolutely delighted with the evening!”  Dame Vivienne Westwood, Fashion Designer

“This is a very special award for us. Thank you to all our public in Europe for showing us such love. We love the LUKAS!” Gente de Zona, Internatonal Act of the Year 2017

“Thank you for looking after us so well and for a great evening - We had a fantastic time and many congratulations on all your hard work.”  David Gilmore (Pink Floyd) and Phil Manzanera

"I am proud to be part of the LUKAS, the long overdue Awards for our achievements in the UK. The gala ceremony will no doubt become the hottest Latin ticket in the annual London diary.” Carlos Acosta, Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet and global ballet superstar

"This is a wonderful event, full of Latin flavour!" Tamara Rojo, Royal Principal dancer and diractor of English National Ballet

“The LUKAS 2015 is a brilliant celebration of Latin America culture. I thoroughly enjoy the evenings, and look forward to it every year.”

Jeremy Corbyn, former Leader of the Opposition

“The LUKAS are a great platform to celebrate the contribution of Britain’s Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese communities. Thank you so much for the invitation!” - Boris Johnson, Prime Minister

"What a wonderful evening. I was so happy to have received this award and I'd like to say a big thank you to all those who took the time to vote for me. I really appreciate the effort and sentiment.”

Luis Suarez, Footballer 

“Good evening to everyone at the LUKAS. I feel honoured and delighted to accept this prestigious award.” Juan Luis Guerra

 

 

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