27th Annual Conjunto Festival This Weekend

Updated: October 18, 2019

Los Fantasmas Del Valle are among the acts scheduled to perform at this year’s festival. Photo: narcisomartinezculturalartscenter.org/

by Tony Vindell/LFN

Ready for conjunto music?

If so, come to Los Frenos this weekend and get ready to hear this musical genre not for one but for three days at the 2019 Conjunto Festival.

It’s the second year the city hosts the event after it relocated to this city on Texas Highway 100 in 2018.

The festival was held in San Benito for 26 years but rising costs forced the organization to find another place.

Musicians from all over the Rio Grande Valley and other areas of the state will gather to play their best tunes at the city’s Memorial Park at 900 Arroyo Blvd. across from Los Fresnos High School from Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20.

This year the festival will include 15 Conjunto groups from the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Kingsville, Alice, Corpus Christi, San Antonio/Austin area and Dallas.

Linda Escobar y Su Conjunto. Photo: narcisomartinezculturalartscenter.org/

The success of the festival depends on the participation of these groups. Some are made up of youngsters such Los Fresnos High School Conjunto Halcon to older musicians such as 76 year old Hector Barron of Los Fantasmas.

On the other side of the musical aisle, Linda Escobar y Su Conjunto and Clemencia Zapata with Conjunto Aztlan will also play.

Rogelio Nuñez, a spokesman with the NMCAC, said the festival purpose is to preserve, develop and promote such musical genre born on the Texas-Mexico border.

“A lot of people experienced three days of Conjunto music in 2018 in Los Fresnos,” he said. “Once again, the city will be hosting a second festival with Conjuntos coming from several regions of the state.”

Juan Lugo Y Su Conjunto. Photo: narcisomartinezculturalartscenter.org/

Nuñez said the festival pays homage to the pioneers of the past so come on over and enjoy three days of live Conjunto music.

There will be dancing, food, beverages and South Texas hospitality.

Admission is $6 each day and the gates will open at 6 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

Schedule of Performers

Friday, Oct. 18
5 p.m.: Juan Lugo y Su Conjunto
6 p.m.: Los Morales Boyz
7 p.m.: Konjunto Kompas
8 p.m.: Tejano Boys

Saturday, Oct. 19
5 p.m.: LFHS Conjunto Halcón
6 p.m.: Conjunto Aztán
7 p.m.: David Flores y Los Tremendos Alacranes
8 p.m.: Ricky Guzman III and the All-Stars
9 p.m.: Lazaro Perez y Su Conjunto
10 p.m.: Los Fantasmas del Valle

Sunday, Oct. 20
4 p.m.: Grupo Inevitable
5 p.m.: Linda Escobar y Su Conjunto
6 p.m.: Frutty Villarreal y Los Mavericks
7 p.m.: Edgar Vasquez y Sus Muchachos
8 p.m.: Ruben Vela y Los Muchachos