A Peña is a meeting place or grouping of musicians or artists, either in Spain (where it is known as Peña Flamenca) or in various South American countries . In Chile

Chile

Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 in particular, the term came to mean a cheap, popular venue where folk music was played and simple food and drink were available, usually in the form of Nueva Canción

Nueva canción

Nueva canción is a movement and genre within Latin American and Iberian music of folk music, folk-inspired music and socially committed music...

, the kind of music popularised by musicians such as Violeta Parra

Violeta Parra

Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval was a notable Chilean composer, songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist...

 and Victor Jara

Víctor Jara

Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez was a Chilean teacher, theatre director, poet, singer-songwriter, political activist and member of the Communist Party of Chile...

 in the 1960s and early 70s

Because of its association with the Unidad Popular Government of Salvador Allende

Salvador Allende

Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....

, the concept of a Peña is often associated with social justice and grassroots culture.