Sacred Fire

A high-energy, family-friendly Santana and Latin rock show — every note played live, no backing tracks. Expect the classics (Oye Como Va, Black Magic Woman, Smooth, Maria Maria, Evil Ways) alongside the deep cuts die-hard fans love, with congas and timbales driving the dance floor and a searing lead guitar on top. We interact with the crowd and keep people dancing all night.

SHOW FORMATS
• Festival / Casino — one continuous 75–90 minute headline set
• Concert Series / Club — two 60-minute sets with intermission
• Private / Corporate — three 45-minute sets across the evening

Private and corporate events can add an old-school R&B and funk dance segment — Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & the Gang and more.

Founded in 2003 by guitarist and band leader Al Bruggman, Sacred Fire Band is one of the most respected Santana tributes in the country, named "Latin Band of the Year" at the 2019 NCEM Awards.

Available as a seven-piece band or an expanded ten-piece ensemble with horns, Sacred Fire delivers the tone, the groove and the fire: soaring lead guitar, swirling organ and a driving Latin percussion section — every note played live, no backing tracks.

Lead vocalist Aki Starr also fronts the legendary Latin rock band MALO and is the former lead singer of the Jorge Santana Band and Foreverland. The current line-up draws on Bay Area staples including the Grammy-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra, and past members include alumni of Santana, Malo and the Jorge Santana Band. The band has performed with Santana alumni Karl Perazzo, Tony Lindsey, Myron Dove and David Margen, and has shared the stage with Santana, War, The Ohio Players and Los Lonely Boys.

THE LINE-UP
Al Bruggman — Band Leader, Guitar, Vocals
Aki Starr — Lead Vocals
Javier "Crow" Carranza — Drums, Vocals
Jordan Brysk — Bass
Ace Ofri — Keyboards
Tomas Montano — Timbales
Silvestre Martinez — Congas
Horn Section (ten-piece line-up) — Trumpet, Trombone, Sax

TRACK RECORD
San Ramon Music Festival (8,000), Windsor Art & Wine Festival (5,000), Milpitas 4th of July Celebration (3,000), San Francisco Carnaval Main Stage (4 times), Fiesta en la Calle Sacramento (5 times), Gilroy Garlic Festival, Fremont Festival of the Arts, Thunder Valley Casino, Gold Country Casino, The Union in Roseville and Jessie's Grove Winery in Lodi. Featured on Good Day Sacramento and FOX 40 News.

Recent performances: Concord Summer Music & Market (Sep 2026), 52nd Nihonmachi Street Fair, San Francisco (Aug 2026), Summer Nights on the Windsor Town Green (Jul 2026) and Latin Legends at the Solano County Fair (Jun 2026).

WHAT PROMOTERS SAY
"Sacred Fire brought the house down!" — Jim Ocean, Event Director, Concord Music & Market
"The crowd was on their feet from the very first song. Our favorite band." — Tina Castelli, Windsor Town Green Concerts
"An authentic powerhouse that nails the Santana sound." — Joey Convento, Entertainment Director, SF Nihonmachi Street Fair

Now booking 2026 and 2027 dates.

LINE-UP OPTIONS
Seven-piece band, or ten-piece ensemble with trumpet, trombone and sax (scalable from 6 to 10 pieces).

STAGE & SOUND
• Preferred stage size: 24 × 20 ft
• 24-channel input list and 7 monitor mixes; wireless mic for lead vocals
• Full live sound, wireless systems and lighting can be provided; a professional sound technician is quoted separately
• Event liability coverage up to $1,000,000 can be arranged when requested in advance

DOCUMENTS
Our 2026–2027 electronic press kit, 2027 tech rider, input list, 7- and 10-piece stage plots and hi-res press photos are available on request and at (link hidden).