Latino music spices up fair

Latino music spices up fair
aldrich m. tan • The Desert Sun • February 22, 2009

It started out as several local acts on the Arabian Nights stage.

Now, Super Fiesta is bringing bigger names from the Latino music scene to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.

Super Fiesta is one of two days devoted to the Latino community, said Veronica Helgeland, assistant fair marketing manager. On Feb. 15, El Coyote y Su Banda Tierra Santa performed at the Fantasy Springs stage.

“We are aware that the majority of the population in this area is Hispanic and have deep Hispanic roots,” Helgeland said.

“We want to make sure that they know that they are a part of their community and that this is their fair.”

Oscar Castro, music promoter for the Indio-based Castro Productions, has held the event for 12 years. Super Fiesta caters to a very growing scene in the Coachella Valley, he said.

“I think everybody knows that there is a very large Latino community and I know many people are waiting for this day,” Castro said.

Super Fiesta's headliners this year are mariachi singer Rosenda Bernal and traditional Mexican music group Banda Pachuco, Castro said.

Castro said Bernal is the Dolly Parton of Mexico. The mariachi singer and actress published at least 20 albums. She is also famous for the 1984 movie called “La Silla Vacia” (The Lonely Chair).

Bernal will perform on stage with the mariachi band Mariachi Latino de Los Angeles California. Castro said she is coming by popular demand.

“People have been asking a lot for her throughout some of the other previous Super Fiestas and now I will be bringing her,” she said.
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The Los Angeles-based Banda Pachuco was formed in the 90s and their 1995 album “Sabor a Chocolate” went platinum, Castro said. The band is famous for their song “El Sinaloense.”

The band has performed in the Coachella Valley before at Spotlight 29 Casino with Lupillo Rivera, another very famous Mexican regional singer, Castro said.

People will be able to dance in front of the stage for Banda Pachuco's entire set, Castro said.

The show will also include a performance by “El Raton,” an imitator of Juan Gabriel, and a local Spanish rock group performing called Grupo Zinema Rock en Español.

Super Fiesta is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Fantasy Springs Concert Pavilion. It is free with admission to the fair grounds. “People have been asking a lot for her throughout some of the other previous Super Fiestas and now I will be bringing her,” she said.

The Los Angeles-based Banda Pachuco was formed in the 90s and their 1995 album “Sabor a Chocolate” went platinum, Castro said. The band is famous for their song “El Sinaloense.”

The band has performed in the Coachella Valley before at Spotlight 29 Casino with Lupillo Rivera, another very famous Mexican regional singer, Castro said.

People will be able to dance in front of the stage for Banda Pachuco's entire set, Castro said.

The show will also include a performance by “El Raton,” an imitator of Juan Gabriel, and a local Spanish rock group performing called Grupo Zinema Rock en Español.

Super Fiesta is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Fantasy Springs Concert Pavilion. It is free with admission to the fair grounds.