Tejano music icon Little Joe Hernandez will perform at the Pan Americana Festival 2018. (Photo credit: Jorge Flores)
It’s not every day that you can check out a musical living legend for free, but tonight Little Joe y La Familia will headline the Pan Americana Festival at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (600 River St.).
Saturday’s concert, which starts at 5 p.m., will wrap up four days of free Tejano music at the cultural center presented by the Mexican American Experience Wednesday and Thursday and the Pan Americana Festival Friday and Saturday during South by Southwest week.
Before Little Joe y La Familia hits the stage, festivalgoers can also catch Tejano music giant David Marez, past Tejano Idol winner Ashley Borrero and former Los Texas Wranglers vocalist Nikki Lopez.
Aside from free admission, the Pan Americana Festival offers free parking at Fiesta Gardens. Shuttles for attendees will run to and from the MACC from 5 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. when the concert ends.
While the South by Southwest crowds are worrying about wristbands, badges and lines, Latin music lovers can check out free music with a lakeside view during the Mexican American Experience and Pan Americana festivals March 15-18.
The two separate festivals at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center celebrate the diversity within the Latin music genre by showcasing everything from Tejano grooves to Latin alternative beats. It’s where you can discover new musical gems but also dance to your favorite songs.
AJ Castillo will headline a show at the Mexican American Experience Festival.
Tejano Music Award winners Jaime y Los Chamacos, of San Antonio, will headline the March 15 showcase at the Mexican American Experience. Other featured performers at the showcase, which starts at 5 p.m., include Los García Brothers, Rumores, Lesly Reynaga and Austin Tejano Idol 2011 winner Ashley Borrero.
Tejano music star A.J. Castillo returns to the Mexican American Experience festival this year to headline the March 16 showcase at 10 p.m. Some acts performing earlier that evening include cumbia band Cañonazo, former frontman of Grupo Vida Art Tigerina, former David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales member Ben Ozuna and Austin-based singer Mia Garcia.
Still want more music? Don’t worry — after the Mexican American Experience ends, the Pan Americana Festival begins on March 17-18. Some of their Friday performers include all-female DJ group Chulita Vinyl Club and Rio Jordan (made up of the sons of legendary accordionist Esteban Jordan). Some of the Saturday night performers include Grammy Award winners David Lee Garza y Los Musicales and funk/soul group 80H Project. Check facebook.com/PanAmericanaFestival for schedule and lineup updates.
Here’s the full line-up for the Mexican American Experience:
Doors open at 5 p.m. Times subject to change.
Wed. March 15
5:30 p.m. Lesly Reynaga
6 p.m. Ashley Borrero
7:15 p.m. Rumores
8:30 p.m. Los Garcia Brothers
9:45 p.m Jaime y Los Chamacos
Thursday, March 16
5:30 p.m. Michel/Corpus Christi
6:30 p.m. Cañonazo
7:30 p.m. Ben Ozuna
8:30 p.m. Art Tigerina Band
9:15 p.m. Mia Garcia
10 p.m. AJ Castillo
Here’s the Pan Americana Festival Line-up (talent subject to change)
CREDIT: Arnold Wells / FOR AUSTIN360. Celso Piña will perform at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center for the 2015 Pan Americana Festival.
While the crowds descend on downtown Austin during South by Southwest, there are two festivals (Mexican American Experience and Pan Americana Festival) where you can enjoy Tejano and Latin rhythms for free while taking in the city’s awe-inspiring lakeside views and festive atmosphere.
On Thursday, San Antonio native and Tejano music star Chente Barrera wraps up the fest after performances by Tejano Idol contest winner Erica Rangel, Beyond Therapy, Llueve and Baraja de Oro.
The hip-shaking music continues after the Mexican American Experience festival ends and the Pan Americana Festival begins on March 20. Master accordionist and party instigator Celso Piña returns this year to headline Friday night. Nicknamed “El Rebelde del Acordeón” (Accordion Rebel), Piña created a hybrid cumbia sound that incorporated reggae, hip-hop, ska and rock. Also bringing innovative genre-blending sounds will be San Antonio’s Piñata Protest, who play accordion-style punk music.
Monterrey electronic rockers Kinky return to the festival as well, this time headlining Saturday night. Los Masters Plus and Austin’s Cilantro Boombox will also energize the stage.
Here’s the full line-up:
Mexican American Experience
March 18
6 p.m. Mariachi Amor
7 p.m. Cañonazo
8 p.m. Street People
9 p.m. Latin Express (Ft. Worth)
10 p.m. Sunny Ozuna and The Sunliners (San Antonio)
March 19
6 p.m. Tejano Idol- Erica Rangel
7 p.m. Beyond Therapy
8 p.m. Llueve (Edinburg, TX)
9 p.m. Baraja de Oro
10 p.m. Chente Barerra (San Antonio)
Pan Americana Festival
March 20
Celso Piña
Missound
Master Blaster Sound System
Piñata Protest
Os Alquimistas w/Tita Lima
Jesus Warr
March 21
Kinky
Missound
Los Master Plus
Cilantro Boombox
The Copper Gamins
Serbia
