There are lots to events to choose from this Diez y Seis, but only one has a Selena tribute, sought-after Mexican craft beer, and the Queen of the Accordion.
On September 16, the Aztec Theatre and CultureMap San Antonio are hosting Independencia Festival, an evening of music, tastings, and other fun activities to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.
Here's why you'll want to get tickets.
La Reina de Tex-Mex
The high-energy Selena tribute band Siempre Selena features seasoned artists from Los Skarnales, Grupo Negami, David Olivares, and Kaos and has been performing together since 2017. They bring back all your favorites from Selena y Los Dinos and put a spin on this world-renowned group's music.
Everyone together
Anything goes in Chulita Vinyl Club, an all-girl, all-vinyl club for self-identifying womxn of color that spins good tunes, no matter the genre. The female DJ collective — which has seven chapters across the U.S. — plays everything from punk and new wave to Motown and Chicano oldies. Within CVC, individuals identify with Latinas, Tejanas, Chicanas, Xicana, and more, with everyone finding a space for empowerment and togetherness.
Hall of famer
Eva Ybarra, known as the Queen of the Accordion, is one of only a few professional women accordionists in conjunto music. Conjunto originated in the late 19th century in working-class communities along the Texas-Mexico border and uses the accordion as the lead instrument to perform dance music based on Mexican and Czech-German folk forms such as the polka, mazurka, schottische, waltz, and huapango. In addition to being in the Tejano R.O.O.T.S Hall of Fame and the Tejano Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ybarra has also received the South Texas Conjunto Association Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor awarded to a folk or traditional artist by the National Endowment of the Arts.
Bottoms up
In addition to its musical performances, the evening will also feature samplings by Cerveceria Minerva, an independent brewery based in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. The brewery recently began importing its Dorada de Guadalajara (a crisp golden ale) to the U.S. for the first time, with San Antonio and Los Angeles being the only cities lucky enough to get it.
Print this
Local printing and apparel company Printed Apparel will be onsite, live screen-printing T-shirts with the event poster, which was designed by artist Ray "Tattooedboy" Scarborough. There will also be a surprise for a few lucky guests, courtesy of Culturemap San Antonio and the Aztec Theatre.
The doors open and music begins at 6:30 pm. The Aztec Theatre is located at 104 N. St. Mary's St.
The Aztec Theatre is going all out for Diez y Seis on September 16.
