The Santería religion – a vibrant blend of the Yoruba religion of West Africa and Roman Catholicism – is everywhere in Cuba and grounded in communion with orishas (roughly, saints) through song. Wearing the white of an iyabó initiate into the religion, the talented Yanet Valdés pours her heart into a transcendent version of "Round Midnight" by the equally talented pianist Alejandro Meroño.

I've never been in a parade, but I can't imagine how tough it must be to give everyone along the way a good performance block after block, hour after hour. Not this fine gentleman: the amount of energy and passion he put into, well, his pride was incredible – and inspiring.

Jessica Boudreaux, lead guitar and vocals, Summer Cannibals, Portland Oregon

Erin Wallace is a dynamo. In addition to singing with the Sportin' Lifers – an infectuous, jump-blues/R&B must-see – she fronts The Sentiments and her own band, Wallace. How does she do it? Simple: she lives to sing. No matter where you see her, you can feel it. So if you love something that much, why not do it everywhere you can? And as long as you're doing it, what's the point of not putting everything you have into it?

A gorgeous Ben Wilborn guitar leaves the runway, this one an OM with sitka spruce top, cocobolo back and sides, paua abalone purfling and ebony binding. Ben is a guitar players’ luthier, crafting every guitar not just with meticulous, almost obsessive detail, but to his high standards as an accomplished musician. The result is as magnificent to behold as it is to play – and let me tell you, especially when he plays it.

The irrepressible Steve Morelli swings the standup bass as he belts it out with the Sportin' Lifers, an infectious jump blues band from Portland Oregon.