Formed in Buenos Aires’s Villa Crespo in 2004, El Kuelgue—led by Julián Kartún alongside Santiago Martínez (vocals/keyboards), Juan Mojoli (bass), Benjamín López (guitar), Pablo Vidal (saxophone), and Tomás Baillie (drums)—built a reputation for genre-bending performances that mix funk, jazz, candombe, rock, bossa nova, tango, and reggae with absurdist humor and theatrical flair. After studio albums Beatriz (2010), Ruli (2013), Cariño Reptil (2015), and the EP Fierrín Lado A (2018), they released their acclaimed fifth album Cuentito in 2021, earning a Carlos Gardel nomination for Best Alternative Pop Album. In 2022 the band embarked on a national tour through Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, La Plata, and other cities, showcasing material from Cuentito and experimenting with urban sounds. Their momentum continued into 2023 with the release of Hola Precioso, featuring singles like “Díganselo” and “Sinoca,” which reinforced their eclectic approach and drew renewed attention. In spring 2024 they launched a European tour—headlining venues across Spain, Denmark, Ireland, and the UK—strengthening their international profile. In 2025, they released the live LP Juegue Kuelgue Juegue and they were honoured with a prestigious Konex Award recognizing their impact on Argentine music over the past decade.
