Fiesta will take up most of the air in San Antonio for the last 10 days in April, and several venues around town have taken it upon themselves to join in the fun with independent music events.
On Thursday, Paper Tiger will host the annual Red Bull Batalla Exhibición, billed as the “World’s Largest Spanish-Language Freestyle Rap Competition” by the popular energy drink maker.
Also on the St. Mary’s Strip, Lonesome Rose welcomes cosmic cowboy Augie Meyers and accordion legend Flaco Jimenez to its honky tonk stage on Friday.
Friday and Saturday evenings, the San Antonio Philharmonic offers the third pops concert of its inaugural season with Viva la Música!, a celebration of Mexican music at the First Baptist Church downtown.
And on April 29, the newly renovated Lowcountry bar kitty corner from Hemisfair will host the King William Rock & Roll Fiesta featuring five bands playing from 3-8 p.m.
Paper Tiger
Spanish-language rap is a competitive sport, thanks to the annual Red Bull Batalla international competition, a freestyle rap competition series featuring rappers from Latin America and the U.S.
The San Antonio Exhibición visits Paper Tiger on Fiesta’s opening day to witness the wordplay of eight competing MCs from Texas, Florida, Mexico and Puerto Rico: Cuban, Jordi, Oner, Reverse, Yartzi, Lobo, Yoiker and Gio.
Successful competitors will advance to the regional qualifier in Houston this summer, toward the November U.S. National Finals and the 2023 World Final, for the chance to ultimately hoist the trophy and join Mexico’s national champion Aczino as titleholder.
Anyone seeking a stylish update to their fit will appreciate the addition of complimentary haircuts by local barbers including Sergio Barron, Adrian Barron, Faded Culture, Kurly Kutz and Koo Kutz Barber Shop, offered on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public, though fans can reserve a spot by registering online.
Low and Lonesome
Musician Garrett T. Capps expresses his love for San Antonio through his songwriting, and through his music programming. Capps is the mind behind both the April 21 Fiesta-alternative concert at the Lonesome Rose, where he books bands, and the April 29 show at Lowcountry, where he served as music programmer from 2017 to 2019.
“Fiesta is the ultimate San Antonio party,” Capps said. He first saw the opportunity to throw a Fiesta-adjacent party on Lowcountry’s backyard patio, riding the wave of the annual King William Fair.
This year’s event will feature mainstay The Shut Ups from Austin, Country Willie Edwards from Nacogdoches and John Falvo & His Daggers from Dallas. Local bands Murdered Out and Brian & the Bar Flies will return from playing last year’s show.
On the food side, Lowcountry co-owner Drew Morros is bringing in friends from New York City who have gained notice for their Texas-focused cooking. Yellow Rose co-owners Dave and Krystiana Rizo are former San Antonians and will bring their “Genuine Cosmic Texas Cookin” to the bar’s outdoor patio.
The cosmic theme will be in full flower at the Lonesome Rose, with cosmic country veterans Augie Meyers and Flaco Jimenez performing with Los Texmaniacs.
Jimenez was originally booked to play a Fiesta-themed party at the honky tonk in April 2020, before the entire citywide festival was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Observant concertgoers will notice the poster still hanging on the Lonesome Rose wall.
Capps said that given their legacy, he remained focused on getting such Tex-Mex legends as Jimenez and Meyers to the stage, and the raucous atmosphere of Fiesta is an ideal moment to do so.
San Antonio cowpunkers Christine Roberts and the So and So’s will open the show.
Capps said the show will likely sell out, with tickets available here.
SA Phil
The new San Antonio Philharmonic symphony orchestra throws its own Fiesta party Friday and Saturday at its host venue, the First Baptist Church downtown.
Anyone looking for more music by popular Mexican composer José Alfredo Jiménez will be pleased with the SA Phil’s program, which includes two pieces by Jiménez among 15 works by 20th-century Mexican composers.
Brazilian conductor Lanfranco Marcelletti will lead the orchestra through the program featuring flutist Elena Durán, who will perform selections from the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, 1930-1960.
With the Fiesta-themed pops concert, the SA Phil will “crack open a giant cascarón full of joyful musical confetti,” according to its website, where tickets can be purchased.
