Starting on April 7th and until June 16th, beginning at 6:30pm at Green Valley Park.
Free admission and free parking.
Food and drink will be available for sale during concerts
Seating will be on the lawn and spectators are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Don’t Mess with Texas Music CDs will be sold at the concerts in support of the Texas Music Project, a statewide initiative with a mission of restoring and strengthening music education in Texas schools. Proceeds from TMP music sales during the concert series will benefit the Birdville ISD music program.
Friday, April 7 – Watusi opening for Brave Combo
Friday, April 21 – Drop Trio opening for Fingerprints
Friday, May 5 – Grupo Amistad opening for Zayra Alvarez
Friday, May 19 – meridianwest opening for Radiant*
Friday, June 2 – Fishing for Comets opening for South Austin Jug Band
Friday, June 16 – Blake and Fallon opening for The Django Walker Band
May 5th - Grupo Amistad
opening for Zayra Alvarez
Amistad………..a new groove to the genre of “cumbia”. Adding a unique flavor to cumbia beats influenced by the sounds of Reggae, Rock, Rap, Vallenato, and a touch of turn table mixing and scratching. Led by Ramon Maldonado (m.c./vocals/director), together bringing harmonic melodies with a bit of flowing verses to their compositions. Adding the rock influence by two guitarists with various styles, J.C. Rios (lead guitar) & Jorge Arista (rhythms). Followed by the unique style of the “bajeo” by bassist Mario Rendon. Accordion and Keys touched with class by Rene Maldonado. The cumbia, reggae, rock/rap beats kept up by drummer/percussionist Roger “el cepillin” Avitia, also with a touch of the congas/bongos of Jose.
Coming together in the late summer of 2000, Amistad brings its cumbia roots, from the “tierra de el amor y la amistad,” Coahuila, MEXICO. Representing Acuña and the valley of Amistad, this group stays true to the roots where this “familia” of “musicos” began. Amistads’ style makes them as versatile and original as any other popular invention. Amistad is known for their live performances, full of energy and improvisation, making each show a new experience for both the audience and the band itself.
Winning the Six Flags Over Texas Battle of the Bands in 2002 over 9 other bands in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, brought a unique classification to Amistad in their home town. Amistads’ versatility keeps evolving, with the growth of their unique style and blending in with the most popular sounds.
This is, AMISTAD.
After so much struggle, deception and obstacles in the way of their dreams and hopes a group of young minds came to form one. "Amistad.“ Being of various influences this group of talented musicians began creating a new groove, blending several styles of music. They began altering their traditional roots of "cumbia tropical.” Tired of the separation of different genres within their own people, Amistad is here representing the human race, proud of their roots & background, Amistad holds their head up high, while others within the same culture discriminate their beliefs.
Ramon & Rene Maldonado, Jorge Arista, Mario Rendon, J.C. Rios, Roger Avitia & Jose Arreguin all together make contributions of what is Amistad. Mixing several influences such as…Cumbia, Reggae, Salsa, Vallenato, Hip Hop, to Rock, this makes Amistad as a versatile and original act.
Amistad was born in a bed/session room in the back of the Maldonados’ home one spring afternoon in 2000. The first session was incredible; "It’s like if we have been playing together for years, the feeling is just too real" quoted Amistad. Till this day Amistad has kept their head following their hopes and dreams, but not losing focus of the harsh true struggle that reality brings.
See more of Grupo Amistad at their offical website, www.amistadmuzik.com
