Local Brief
Fiesta San Antonio's playlist: Gritos and cumbias
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Anthony Medrano performing during a Night in Old San Antonio. Photo: Courtesy of Campanas de America
Hair-raising gritos and "ay ay ay" chants from the cumbia circle aren't just background noise. They're part of what makes Fiesta, San Antonio's 11-day annual party, feel like a citywide family party.
The vibe: Anthony Medrano, a violinist with the mariachi group Campanas de America, tells Axios that music is woven into Fiesta's fabric — just as Fiesta is into the city's multicultural identity.
- "It's just a beautiful blend of every type of music accompanied with a beer and a cascarón," he says.
It's a mix that DJ Noland "Menyo" Arocha, who will spin at Fiesta De Los Reyes, has mastered over 10 years: accordion-heavy cumbias, a sprinkle of country and a dash of freestyle.
- Both agree: Fiesta is made for sing-alongs.
What they're saying: "They want to dance, everyone wants to wave their hands in the air and spill their beer a bit," Medrano says. "It's also a time for gritos."
State of play: Arocha and Medrano obliged us by adding a few songs to our always-growing Fiesta playlist. A new addition was "Don't Stop the Party" by Pitbull, submitted by Arocha.
- "Even though the cops tell everyone to go home, they still continue partying. That song is so true to Fiesta — I think Pitbull wrote it for Fiesta," he jokes.
Zoom out: When they're not performing, they each have go-to spots to take in the sounds.
- Medrano camps out early at the King William Fair bandstand or dances at San Jose Mission Fest.
- Arocha hits up a Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA) when he's not spinning at Market Square.
What's next: Arocha says he wouldn't mind seeing EDM infiltrate the Fiesta playlist.