17th Annual San Jose Mariachi Festival Features Unprecendented Roster

17th Annual San Jose Mariachi Festival Features Unprecendented Roster

Linda Ronstadt Highlights International Artists

SAN JOSE, Calif., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- San Jose's Mexican Heritage Corporation (MHC), producer of the largest mariachi and Latin music festivals in California, today announced an unprecedented artist roster for its signature event, the 17th Annual San Jose International Mariachi Festival. The September 7-28 celebration, held at venues throughout San Jose, is the largest of its kind in the U.S.

"The festival schedule and artist roster provides something for everyone - - for fans of contemporary music, traditional music and families," said Marcela Davison Aviles, executive producer of the festival and president and CEO of MHC.

One of the festival highlights will be a musical tribute to three giants of the mariachi genre: Lola Bertran, Amalia Mendoza and Lucha Ryes. The September 27 gala concert (tickets go on sale June 20) teams three great artists who'll perform together for the first time -- Linda Ronstadt, Lila Downs and Aida Cuevas -- and features international mariachi stars Los Camperos de Nati Cano and Mariachi Cobre.

Other hot tickets will be the September 7 appearance of San Jose's own musical giants -- Los Tigres del Norte -- along with Mexican star Pepe Aguilar and El Chapo de Sinaloa, and the September 28 performance by Las Pioneras, the legendary women who pioneered the concept of mariachi "girl groups."

The month-long celebration of Mexico's music, culture, cuisine and education will also include educational workshops on subjects including Mexican trick roping and sustainable design using Mexican adobe and straw bale construction. In addition, more than 400 students from all over the country will attend workshops on mariachi music and dance, and will present a concert to showcase what they learned on September 25. These students will also attend a September 26 Q&A session featuring Ronstadt and Cobre, which will be open to the public on a first come basis.

The culmination of the festival will occur on September 28 with the Feria del Mariachi in Plaza de Cesar Chavez, a day-long event featuring music, dance, food and family activities. For more information, including a schedule of events, visit http://www.sanjosemariachifestival.com/.

About the Mexican Heritage Corporation

The Mexican Heritage Corporation of San Jose affirms, celebrates and preserves Mexico's rich cultural heritage and showcases multicultural visual and performing arts and cultural events. For more information, visit http://www.mhcviva.org/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Mexican Heritage Corporation

CONTACT: Jill Arnone of The Arnone Group, +1-408-315-5121,
jilla@thearnonegroup.com, for Mexican Heritage Corporation

Web site:

http://www.sanjosemariachifestival.com/
http://www.mhcviva.org/

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