La Banda Mixanteña de Santa Cecilia

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Image courtesy of Grec Festival de Barcelona.

This Mexican wind and percussion band transports us to the festive traditions of the Costa Chica region of Guerrero and Oaxaca. 

Through genres such as chilenas, sones, boleros, cumbias, merequetengues and more, the band turns every stage into a space of collective celebration, where dance, joy and engagement with the audience take center stage. The band is made up of musicians from Guerrero, Oaxaca and Mexico City, who perform and share this particularly festive musical. 

The group’s musical director is Fredy Campos, originally from Tototepec, in the Sierra de Guerrero. Since 2010, the group has explored the music of this region, later expanding its repertoire through research, field recordings and visits to master musicians such as Don Alejandrino Juárez, of Banda Azoyú. Music from other regions has also been incorporated into their repertoire. The Sierra de Guerrero is a multi-ethnic region where Mixtec, Tlapanec, Chatino and Amuzgo communities coexist, and here they perform the chilena with coastal influences. This music forms part of all celebrations–weddings and patron saint festivals–and, in addition to the musicians, includes dancers and copleros (improvised verse singers). 

Just as round-trip musical genres connected music from different parts of the world, maritime routes along the Pacific coast, from Chile to California, during the Gold Rush, reshaped the economy and culture of the Americas. The chilena genre in Guerrero and Oaxaca is one such example and has its origins in the Chilean cueca. 

Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals

What are your plans for summer? If you’re staying in the city, you won’t be alone. Barcelona is becoming a go-to destination for festival lovers, given Catalunya’s covetable combination of culture, great weather and an increasingly diverse concert circuit. So if you’re looking to expand your horizons while staying put this season, check out our article Sounds of the City: Summer Music Festivals for a summary of the summer music events taking place in Barcelona, from big-name gatherings to boutique takeovers.

For more music events check our online events calendar.