Daymé Arocena

Daymé Arocena plays the Zellerbach Theatre on Friday, January 29, 2027, at 7:30 PM. It's her first time back on stage in over nine years, and the performance is part of the University of Pennsylvania's 26/27 season.

If you haven't come across her before, Arocena is an Afro-Cuban singer who pulls from a few different places at once: the rhythms of Latin traditions, the nimble athleticism of jazz, and the catchy hooks of pop. It's a wide reach, and the comparisons usually lean toward some heavy names—Aretha Franklin, Celia Cruz, and Nina Simone. The New York Times described her as someone who "unites cosmopolitan musicianship with deep roots," and NPR Music called her a dynamic performer "con carisma y fuerza."

That's a lot of ground to cover in one voice, and the Grammy nomination she's earned along the way points to how she manages it. The gap since her last stage appearance makes this more than just another stop on a tour; it's a return to the live set after nearly a decade away.

The show is at the Zellerbach Theatre, part of the University of Pennsylvania at 3680 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. Tickets run from $36 to $84, and the performance starts at 7:30 PM.