Sheila E

On 3 April 2026 Sheila E. performs at PLT - Theater Heerlen with a set that brings together her two strengths: singing and percussion. Born in Oakland into a musical family, she developed an early timbales and drum style rooted in Afro‑Latin rhythms; that pulse remains the driving force of her live shows. In the 1980s she worked closely with Prince, which launched her solo career with The Glamorous Life, followed by Romance 1600 and her self‑titled 1987 album. Expect a journey through funk‑pop and the Minneapolis sound, with tight breaks, Latin accents and room for improvisation.

She also draws on later chapters: the R&B‑tinged Sex Cymbal, the spiritual and Latin‑jazz colours of Writes of Passage, and project work such as Icon and Iconic: Message 4 America. On stage Sheila E. alternates between vocals, percussion and band leadership — timbales front and centre, solid grooves around them. The set outlines her trajectory, with new material standing alongside earlier favourites like The Glamorous Life, all driven by rhythm and interplay.