Meet ‘Mucho Gusto Fest’ a Music Festival Without Borders
The event will serve as platform to celebrate diasporic music, immigrant communities, and the resilience that defines our region
Looking for a festival that brings together a blend of artistic discovery, interesting musical proposals, and a chance to make a positive impact? Look no further than Mucho Gusto Fest!
This new musical festival is a celebration of music that knows no borders. It aims to ignite the passion of change makers and inspire them to become engaged advocates for the causes and communities closest to their hearts and create a shared vision of a future worth celebrating.
The festival’s organizer said that the event will serve as platform to celebrate diasporic music, immigrant communities, and the resilience that defines our region. Set to take place in Riverside, California on September 23, the festival promises a vibrant show of international rhythms carrying a significant message.
Miremos un poco más para adentro. Miremos la cara del otro y no tan allá tan lejos, que a veces uno se pierde del mensaje real, de la música real y de la gente real por consumir todo lo que se consume tan masivamente. Hay que ser un poco más curiosos y tratar de ver qué pasa en las escenas independientes, donde no hay esa cantidad de dinero de los sellos, en donde lo que hay es amor al arte y una magia musical increíble que a veces no es reconocida, pero que vale la pena conocer. Una vez que te atrapa, quedas enganchado para siempre» –’La Perla’ for Vogue.
Lineup
Medio Picky, Dominican Republic
He was recently named one of Pitchfork’s 25 New and Rising Artists shaping the future of music in 2023. He has shared the stage with C Tangana, Bad Bunny, Tokischa, and more.
Pablo Alcantara “mediopicky” is a producer, performer and DJ from the Dominican Republic. He grew up surrounded by different styles of music and from an early age was curious about how to create and mix sounds.
He blends the sounds of bedroom pop, urban, and electronic music with Afro-Caribbean genres in his music. You can find mixes from merengue to rock or from trap to cumbia, all with a strong emphasis on bass and occasional vocals. His music’s primary focus is on getting people to dance and enjoy the energy it brings.
Lo que me interesa es que la gente sienta algo a partir de lo que yo pueda crear, no importa lo que sea, pero que sienta algo y baile sin pensar en que tipo de música esta escuchando» –Medio Picky.
É Arenas
Eduardo Arenas is a musician, co-founder of the ‘guapachosa’ and Californian cult band ‘Chicano Batman’.
Despite having lived in various cities across Latin America, including Panama and Brazil, Eduardo Arenas sees «honesty» as his true «flag». He doesn’t concern himself with races, countries, or colors; instead, he delves into the realm of emotions through his music. Rather than being a politician, he is a musician with a genuine desire to offer people a sound that brings joy and the opportunity to start over.
La Perla, Colombia
La Perla is a part of a Colombian musical heritage that takes pride in exploring the sounds of their homeland from a unique perspective, demonstrating both a remarkable absence of cynicism and an admirable commitment to academic excellence.
La Perla is a percussive-vocal trio from Bogota, integrated to Karen, Diana and Roberta (Giovanna), who are inspired by the musics of the Great Caribbean and mix them with sounds of the city. La Perla is gaita, porro, chalupa, bullerengue, cumbia, merengue dominicano, champeta and beat box.
Their remarkable talent and dedication were acknowledged in 2015 when they made history as the first band from Bogotá to win the esteemed Festival de Gaitas de Ovejas in Sucre, Colombia. Being only the second time in over 30 years that female artists had won the award.
Orchestra GOLD, Mali, Africa
The Oakland, Californian-based ensemble, shows an original sound that merges the rich traditions of Mali with American Rock/Funk, infused with a delightful retro twist. Mariam Diakite from Mali and Erich Huffaker have joined forces for over a decade, resulting in a mesmerizing sound that draws from the past while fearlessly pushing boundaries.
Cumbiation
The group was founded by Dj Sizzle Fantastic and Normz la Oaxaqueña. As Hola! stated, Cumbiaton’s vision in Boyle Heights, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York to center womxn, trans, and queer people of color both on the dance floor and in the Dj booth.
Milpa
As said on their Spotify, Milpa is a collective of composers, multi-instrumentalists, poets, and cultural artists from the Inland Empire. Influenced by the community’s vibrant struggle and produced by the multicultural and native reverberations of Southern California, the group explores the world of folkloric rhythms from Jarocho to Conga, Caribe to Angola, Pacífico beats, and tropic rodas.
Their art and lyrics promote freedom, healing, social and environmental justice, community activism, and cultural celebration. Since 2008, Milpa’s diverse energy has remained rooted to Afro-Indigenous music, poetry, dance, and community.
Niño Francois
Niño has been creating irresistibly tracks that set the dance floor on fire. He possesses a special fondness for the gritty and raw essence of perreo and cumbia, which he skillfully blends with various global music genres, resulting in his distinctive Tropical Sound.
QUITAPENAS
This group brings together a tight-knit group of friends who are first-generation sons of Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants. They all share a deep passion for dance rhythms. The band name itself holds a meaningful message: «to remove worries.» Acknowledging that everyone carries their own «pena» (worries), the band’s mission is clear and straightforward: to make you dance and leave you without a care in the world.
This tropical Afro-Latin combo was born under the warm California sun. They borrow aesthetics from the radical 60s, 70s and 80s. Each song echoes a remix of history and invites one to engage in the liberating evenings of Angola, Peru, Colombia, Brazil and beyond.
EL SANTO GOLPE
El Santo Golpe has one main goal, to use their music as universal language to help close gaps between cultures, genres, ages, and beliefs, creating a worldwide community where we can all dance, sing, laugh and forget about our daily troubles.» EL SANTO GOLPE’s Website.
El Santo Golpe originated in Riverside, California in 2016, formed by a group of close friends, family, and fellow artists. It honors different cultures, history, and traditions by using traditional instrumentation like eight-string Jaranas, Tarima (a wooden platform), Djembe, Primera, and Accordion, to mention a few, as well as dances and expressions influenced by Mexican Folklore, Bomba from Puerto Rico, West African Dance, and more.
LA PAPAYA CLUB
This collective embarks on a melodic journey celebrating the rich tapestry of diverse cultures within Latin America. Their mission is to shine a radiant spotlight on genres often overshadowed in mainstream charts.
However, their mission goes beyond just music. With a deep passion for making a positive impact, they actively fundraise for organizations directly connected to communities. Their determination lies in sharing, empowering, and healing through the universal language of music, one beat at a time.
Jeremy Sole
Sole is driven by a mission to encourage cultural unity through the universal language of music. Through his DJ sets, remixes, and original compositions, he blends world sounds and experimental beats, resulting in a vibrant and joyous celebration of life.