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 band害羞草研究所檚 annual spring tour of the Valley.

In Lake Country Saturday, March 18 to perform at the inaugural , don害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淚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 what害羞草研究所檚 happening stylistically now. It害羞草研究所檚 always moving forward,害羞草研究所� said Los Dorados害羞草研究所� 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 Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 successful Mariachi Festival Canada, but is also the Canadian representative at Guadalajara害羞草研究所檚 International Mariachi Festival, which the band returned to this past year for its fourth visit.

害羞草研究所淲e were invited there specifically,害羞草研究所� said Kohl. 害羞草研究所淚 especially love jamming in the hotel lobby. It害羞草研究所檚 not pretentious at all. It害羞草研究所檚 all for the love of music and especially with all of us being mariachi, it害羞草研究所檚 a great experience.害羞草研究所�

One thing that Los Dorados has been working on 害羞草研究所� and has highlighted on its most recent and third self-titled album - is updating the mariachi repertoire.

害羞草研究所淎ll these old songs are recycled by artists. We thought what was missing was new material,害羞草研究所� said Kohl. 害羞草研究所淕oing back to Mexico influenced us to further the style and add to it. We study the classics and respect the traditional, but it害羞草研究所檚 a good move not to just do cover tunes and arrangements but to add our own flair and compositions害羞草研究所� We are looking to expanding our base.害羞草研究所�

Los Dorados害羞草研究所� new album, which was submitted to this year害羞草研究所檚 Juno awards in the world music category, features original songs written by band members, including Kohl害羞草研究所檚 original arrangement of a traditional huapango, or Mexican folk dance, entitled Diego害羞草研究所檚 Huapango.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 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,害羞草研究所� said Kohl who provided the vocals along with Alegria and bandmate Ricardo Ochoa.

Besides writing and arranging, Kohl continues be a part of Los Dorados害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 one of my favourite instruments to play,害羞草研究所� said Kohl, who also plays blues and Latin guitar as well as jazz piano. 害羞草研究所淎 mariachi without a guitarr贸n just doesn害羞草研究所檛 work. The tone of the guittar贸n is unique. Everything about it is different from the technique and the approach.害羞草研究所�

Los Dorados害羞草研究所� annual tour of the Okanagan, produced by Ken Smedley, takes place on the following dates:

害羞草研究所� March 21 at 7:30 p.m., Zion United Church Hall, Armstrong. Tickets at Chocoliro, Armstrong, 250-546-2886.

害羞草研究所� March 22 at 7:30 p.m., Barking Parrot Lounge, Penticton. Tickets at The Dragon害羞草研究所檚 Den, Penticton, 250-492-3011.

害羞草研究所� March 23 at 7:30 p.m., Carlin Hall, Tappen. Tickets at Acorn Music, SalmonArm, 250-832-8669.

害羞草研究所� March 24 at 7:30 p.m., Okanagan College Vernon campus theatre. Tickets at The Bean Scene, Vernon, 250-558-1817.

害羞草研究所� March 25 at 7:30 p.m., Centre Stage Theatre, Summerland. Tickets at Martin害羞草研究所檚 Flowers (next to Nester害羞草研究所檚), Summerland, 250-494-5432.