Peruvians love music, and listen to it all the time. From kids practicing dance moves in parks, to combis (mini buses) blasting music during commutes, and most importantly, to all night festivals/parties, music of many types is very important to Peruvian culture. Many Peruvians know and enjoy a lot of American music, but usually just the current pop hits and a lot of 70s and 80s classic rock. Latin American rock, especially from Argentina, is also very popular. Rock and pop music are usually reserved for casual and personal listening. When it's time to party and dance, other genres take center stage. Peruvian parties (often all night affairs) usually involve one or more bands. These can be a conjunto or grupo (ensemble or group), a banda (band), or an orquesta (orchestra with traditional instruments).
A group will usually play cumbia (a type of dance and rhythym), either covers or originals. Some groups are internationally famous, like Corazon Serrano, Agua Marina, and Grupo 5. They have electric instruments, dancers on stage, and multiple singers. These are the bands that will end up playing all night, singing about love and heartbreak.
