The Cuban Brothers

The Cuban Brothers

The Cuban Brothers are a comedy group from Edinburgh, Scotland, known for live shows that combine funk, soul, hip-hop and Latin-influenced material with physical comedy, observational humour and dancing. Their performances include medleys of hip-hop and funk classics, and they are associated with a deliberately theatrical style that mixes music and comic characters.

Background and releases

The group’s debut single is A Million Stories, released in 2006 on Rob da Bank’s Sunday Best imprint. A remix by Diesler also becomes popular. Their act is linked to festival appearances and high-profile bookings, including Glastonbury, Bestival and the Gumball Rally, as well as private performances for Robbie Williams, Elton John and Richard Branson.

Characters and personnel

The Cuban Brothers present themselves through a set of recurring characters. Miguel Mantovani, also known as Mike Keat, is the central impresario figure and is described as a Cuban legend with a history in entertainment and pornography, along with various criminal, political and sexual misadventures. Archerio Mantovani, also known as Archie Easton, is Miguel’s protégé, presented as a graduate of the Havana School of Performing Arts and a former street performer. Clemente Mantovani, also known as Russ H, is an uncle or brother figure who provides the musical flow and party atmosphere.

Expanded lineup

The act also expands to include Uncle Tim, identified as Tim Hutton, who is known for playing multiple instruments with artists including Ian Brown and Groove Armada, and Kengo, a UK breakdance champion from the 2004 Battle of Britain, who performs as Kengo San, Miguel’s Cuban-Japanese “love child”.

Style

The group’s live reputation rests on a changing mix of music, slapstick, dancing and comic storytelling, with each performance built around exaggerated family mythology and a deliberately chaotic stage persona.