Music has always been about tearing down walls, not building them.

Just look at British band Pink Floyd, whose iconic concept album The Wall, released in 1979, was used as the soundtrack to the fall of the Berlin Wall 10 years later.

For Vancouver mariachi musicians Los Dorados, a wall will never separate them from celebrating the musical heritage and culture of Mexico.

Dressed in traditional mariachi garb, specifically designed for the band, Los Dorados has continued to share its love and knowledge of this Mexican storytelling style of music for more than a decade, as Okanagan residents know full well with the band91裸聊视频檚 annual spring tour of the Valley.

In Lake Country Saturday, March 18 to perform at the inaugural , don91裸聊视频檛 be surprised if you see a few sombreros and smiles as Los Dorados travels up and down the Okanagan-Shuswap in its new 15-passenger van next week.

91裸聊视频淚t is always a great inspiration for us to be right in the midst of not just the cultural/historical past of the mariachi, but what91裸聊视频檚 happening stylistically now. It91裸聊视频檚 always moving forward,91裸聊视频� said Los Dorados91裸聊视频� Diego Kohl, who was born in Ajijic on Lake Chapala, Mexico and raised in Armstrong, B.C.

Led by Mexican-born singer-guitarist Alex Alegria, Los Dorados is not only the organizer of Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 successful Mariachi Festival Canada, but is also the Canadian representative at Guadalajara91裸聊视频檚 International Mariachi Festival, which the band returned to this past year for its fourth visit.

91裸聊视频淲e were invited there specifically,91裸聊视频� said Kohl. 91裸聊视频淚 especially love jamming in the hotel lobby. It91裸聊视频檚 not pretentious at all. It91裸聊视频檚 all for the love of music and especially with all of us being mariachi, it91裸聊视频檚 a great experience.91裸聊视频�

One thing that Los Dorados has been working on 91裸聊视频� and has highlighted on its most recent and third self-titled album - is updating the mariachi repertoire.

91裸聊视频淎ll these old songs are recycled by artists. We thought what was missing was new material,91裸聊视频� said Kohl. 91裸聊视频淕oing back to Mexico influenced us to further the style and add to it. We study the classics and respect the traditional, but it91裸聊视频檚 a good move not to just do cover tunes and arrangements but to add our own flair and compositions91裸聊视频� We are looking to expanding our base.91裸聊视频�

Los Dorados91裸聊视频� new album, which was submitted to this year91裸聊视频檚 Juno awards in the world music category, features original songs written by band members, including Kohl91裸聊视频檚 original arrangement of a traditional huapango, or Mexican folk dance, entitled Diego91裸聊视频檚 Huapango.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 in a mariachi style derived from Spanish guitar and has a specific rhythm. My arrangement is based on mariachi orchestration with three violin parts, two trumpets and the rhythm section. The voice also goes in high range,91裸聊视频� said Kohl who provided the vocals along with Alegria and bandmate Ricardo Ochoa.

Besides writing and arranging, Kohl continues be a part of Los Dorados91裸聊视频檚 rhythm section, playing the big Mexican guitar known as the guitarr贸n. The unique instrument, where the strings are plucked not too unlike a harp, has provided him with his own community of musicians.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 one of my favourite instruments to play,91裸聊视频� said Kohl, who also plays blues and Latin guitar as well as jazz piano. 91裸聊视频淎 mariachi without a guitarr贸n just doesn91裸聊视频檛 work. The tone of the guittar贸n is unique. Everything about it is different from the technique and the approach.91裸聊视频�

Los Dorados91裸聊视频� annual tour of the Okanagan, produced by Ken Smedley, takes place on the following dates:

91裸聊视频� March 21 at 7:30 p.m., Zion United Church Hall, Armstrong. Tickets at Chocoliro, Armstrong, 250-546-2886.

91裸聊视频� March 22 at 7:30 p.m., Barking Parrot Lounge, Penticton. Tickets at The Dragon91裸聊视频檚 Den, Penticton, 250-492-3011.

91裸聊视频� March 23 at 7:30 p.m., Carlin Hall, Tappen. Tickets at Acorn Music, SalmonArm, 250-832-8669.

91裸聊视频� March 24 at 7:30 p.m., Okanagan College Vernon campus theatre. Tickets at The Bean Scene, Vernon, 250-558-1817.

91裸聊视频� March 25 at 7:30 p.m., Centre Stage Theatre, Summerland. Tickets at Martin91裸聊视频檚 Flowers (next to Nester91裸聊视频檚), Summerland, 250-494-5432.