From 7 p.m.-11 p.m. May 16, the festival presents New Directions in Conjunto Music Night at the theatre, showcasing young squeezebox accordion guns and bands which are pushing the musical limits of Conjunto: Juanito Castillo is a 23-year-old blind accordion wizard that will dazzle guests with his jazz accordion riffs; Los Fabulocos from Los Angeles bring their distinctive Conjunto rock rolas; Thoze Guyz from Roscoe, in West Texas, will be performing some Conjunto country and oldies; and Los Nahuatlatos perform a unique blend of Conjunto, Son Jarocho, huapangos and cumbias. For the weekend of May 17-19, the festival moves outside to Rosedale Park, where 32 of the best Conjuntos will be performing, along with some special guest presentations that include five-time Grammy Award winner Flaco Jiménez, and Conjunto Music Hall of Famers Mingo Saldívar, Los Dos Gilbertos, Bene Medina, Los Pavos Reales, Salvador García and Eddie “Lalo” Torres, and the Queen of Conjunto, Eva Ybarra. The one-of-a-kind lineup also showcases the best Conjuntos in Texas, including Boni Mauricio, Los DesperadoZ, Los Hermanos Farías, Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers, Los Monarcas, Linda Escobar, Los Hermanos Serrata Los Buenos, Los Paisanos de Chalito Johnson, Sunny Sauceda, Mickey y sus Carnalez, Conjunto Baraja de Oro, Rubén Vela Jr., y su Conjunto, and many more. Making their Conjunto Festival debut will be Mando y La Venganza, Impozzible, Tomás Navarro y Conjunto Amable, Los Ángeles del Sur, and the 2012 Big Squeeze Competition winner, Nachito Morales y Los Moralez Boyz.
Other Tejano Conjunto Festival highlights include a poster contest, accordion and bajo sexto workshops, Tex-Mex food and beverage booths, accordion raffles, Conjunto student recitals and plenty of dancing and fun for the entire family in a friendly park environment. For the complete schedule of events with dates, times, prices and lineup of the bands performing, visit www. guadalupeculturalarts.org or call 210-271-3151.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Photo Credits: Page 68-69 Flaco Jimenez Courtesy Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Los Desperadoz Courtesy Los Desporadoz Los Hermanos Farias Courtesy Los Hermanos Farias Eva Ybarra Courtesy Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Mickey y sus Carnalez Courtesy Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
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