Chicano Music Festival & Auction | July 25-29

Su Teatro’s biggest and best party of the year returns, the 22nd Annual Chicano Music Festival will heat up Santa Fe Drive with musica, dancing, and comida all under the stars. Plus, brilliant art and great deals at the annual auction.

Schedule of Events:

Wednesday 7/25 @ 6:30pm, FREE

XicanIndie Music in Film: RUMBLE The Indians Who Rocked the World – The story of the missing chapter in American Music history.

Thursday 7/26 @ 7pm, $6

Chicano Music Hall of Fame Induction – A night in concert as we honor Colorado’s legends and pioneers in music. *SEE INDUCTEES BELOW

Friday 7/27 @ 7pm, $6 to see $3 to Jam

Chicano Roots Resistance JamSession – Come on down! Bring your axe and your experience for a jam session with top musicos

Saturday 7/28 @ 11am, $3 for kids & $5 for adults

Cascada de Flores (a children’s performance)

Saturday 7/28 @ 6-11pm, $20

Summer Pachanga- Tirar a little Chancla – You won’t want to miss the dance party of the Summer. Don’t forget your dancing shoes!

Sunday 7/29 @ 5-9pm, $15

Mariachi Tardeada – Wall to wall Mariachi!

*2018 Inductees of the Chicano Music Hall of Fame

Al Gallegos was born in the small northern Colorado town of Morley and picked up the accordion when he was only nine years old. Fully self-taught, Al Gallegos would play for anyone that would listen and soon began making money from his impromptu concerts. After serving in the military and playing his accordion while he was stationed in Germany, Al knew he was ready to start a band when he returned to Colorado. Al played with other notable Chicano and Mexicano musicians throughout his career including Ms. Eva Nuanez, another Chicano Music Hall of Fame Inductee. His music has graced numerous Northern Colorado events throughout the years and his work as an accordionist has sustained the Chicano music aesthetic throughout northern Colorado.  In his 90s, Al Gallegos still performs regularly at the Balfour Nursing Home where his older brother Pete is a patient.

La Raza Rocks was the brainchild of Darold Vigil, known as “Pocho Joe” to his radio listeners. Darold (Pocho Joe) wanted to share the buried treasures of Chicano and Latino rock-based music with KUVO listeners and highlight the pioneering sounds of the 1940s up to today’s newest hits. His vast musical library and understanding of the genre helped propel La Raza Rocks to one of KUVO’s flagship Sunday programs. The unique quality of the Chicano/Latino-based music that is heard on La Raza Rocks has built a love for this music and has instilled cultural pride and historical knowledge regarding the often times unknown Chicano/Latino musicians in our midst. Steve Chavis, KUVO’s Program Director, notes that “Pocho Joe is a national treasure whose research proves that the Chicano influence on the American art form called ‘rock and roll’ is significant, yet under-appreciated.”  Darold aka Pocho Joe is a champion of this musical genre and part of Colorado’s musical history. Tune in to La Raza Rocks every Sundays from 1pm to 2pm.

In 2002, Pamela Liñan was the music teacher at Bryant-Webster Elementary School.  It was during one of those classes that Pamela decided that now was the time to take her life-long commitment to mariachi music to new heights.  That year she organized and began El Mariachi Juevenil de Bryant Webster, one of the shining stars of Denver’s public school system.  As noted by Flo Hernandez Ramos in her nomination, “Pamela has supported, performed, loved and lived mariachi over 50 years, as part of family tradition, musician, 31 years as an educator and 16 years as the director of El Mariachi Juvenil de Bryant-Webster.”  She hasn’t stopped there…Pamela is directing Denver’s first all-female mariachi, Mariachi Femenil Alma de Folklore, set to make its debut July 21st at the 5th Annual Mariachi Women’s Festival in California.

Although Colorado was once part of Mexico, the state carries traditions that reach back to the period of Spanish Colonialism and even further back into native and pre-European traditions as well.  Whenever you hear music created uniquely in Colorado you can hear all those influences blended within each song. The induction ceremony will take place in conjunction with the 22nd Annual Chicano Music Festival and Auction, July 26th. The evening includes a concert featuring current and previous inductees.

Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center

Chicano Music Festival & Auction

July 25 through 29

Get Tickets!