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含羞草研究社檚 annual spring tour of the Valley.

In Lake Country Saturday, March 18 to perform at the inaugural , don含羞草研究社檛 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.

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

含羞草研究社淲e were invited there specifically,含羞草研究社� said Kohl. 含羞草研究社淚 especially love jamming in the hotel lobby. It含羞草研究社檚 not pretentious at all. It含羞草研究社檚 all for the love of music and especially with all of us being mariachi, it含羞草研究社檚 a great experience.含羞草研究社�

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

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

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

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 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,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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