Vacaville-based Sapo Guapo may have to travel north only about 15 miles to get to The Palms Playhouse for Saturday’s show, but the Latin and Afro-Cuban music they bring with them comes from significantly farther south.

Sapo Guapo is an 11-piece Latin dance band based in Vacaville that has cultivated a sizable following for its Afro-Cuban sound. The band has a large repertoire of familiar Latin dance music from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico and, yes, New York. The band also plays several original songs composed by its co-founder, Juan Alejandro.

While salsa is featured, the band also performs other popular dance rhythms such as the cha-cha, merengue, cumbia and an occasional romantic bolero. The energy created by Sapo Guapo finds its way right into the audience and gets people dancing.

Four members of the band have traveled to Cuba to study with famous Afro-Cubano performers; other members have roots in culturally rich “San Pancho” (San Francisco’s Mission District).

Sapo Guapo includes Jon Russ (trumpet — also played on Pacific Mambo Orchastra’s recent Grammy-winning album), JB Ramirez (lead and harmony vocals — also with the Time Bandits), Mike Cherry (trombone), Juan Alejandro (lead vocals) and African-born pianist Augie Chukuma.

Sapo Guapo’s show Saturday at The Palms Playhouse, 13 Main St. in downtown Winters, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at Armadillo Music in Davis, Davids’ Broken Note in Woodland, Pacific Ace Hardware in Winters and at the door if not sold out.

For more information, visit palmsplayhouse.com and sapoguapo.com.

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