The 41st annual Tejano Conjunto Festival proper begins May 19, with three days of bands filling the schedule at Rosedale Park.
Superfans will be keen to know that the Tejano Conjunto Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place on Thursday, and seniors can get a leg up on the festivities by dancing to conjunto legends Eddie Lalo Torres Santiago Jimenez, Jr. on Wednesday, both events happening at the Guadalupe Theater.
More on those events to follow, but those looking for a deep dive into the history of borderlands regional music will note that the celebration around the festival actually begins quietly on Monday. The Progreso Community Gallery will host a free 7 p.m. reception for an exhibition titled “The Instruments and Artistry of the Acosta Family of San Antonio.”
Nine restored original instruments made by the family’s expert makers since 1920 will be on display, along with photographs from the Acosta archives showing the multigenerational family of instrument makers at work. Family members will be present for the reception.
Acosta family
Guadalupe Acosta opened his workshop in 1920 on West Commerce Street, handcrafting bajo sextos, violins, harps and other instruments. His work became legendary for its mastery and attention to detail, qualities he passed along to his sons Jesus, Miguel and Luis, who in turn passed secrets of the craft to his son Miguel “Mickey” Acosta.
By then, the family reputation had spread far and wide, with Mickey’s work drawing such notable musicians as Moe Bandy, San Antonio’s own George Strait and famous fretmaster Eddie Van Halen. David Hidalgo of Los Lobos once held a restored six-string guitar made by Guadalupe’s son Miguel, and said the instrument should be in a museum, according to Mickey’s son Mike.
That guitar, labeled “SUGAR” on the headstock in inlaid abalone, was found by Todd Cambio, a Wisconsin maker who has worked for decades to restore the Acosta instruments and legacy. Cambio recently tracked down an exceedingly rare harp presumably made by Guadalupe, the first the family has seen, and is currently working to restore the notable instrument.
Cambio will also be present at the Monday reception, along with another Miguel Acosta guitar he restored in 2020, notable for its visually stunning checkerboard pattern of alternating quarter-inch squares of Brazilian rosewood and spruce.
When Mickey died in early 2021, Mike became the primary caretaker of the family legacy. He has worked to collect photographs, ephemera and any instruments he can locate and persuade owners to part with, hoping to one day find them all a home in a museum.
For one month, the Progreso Community Gallery will serve as that museum.
Eva and Flaco
The music made by those instruments will be the main feature for the rest of the festival, with 27 bands performing over three days.
Friday’s Rosedale Park headliner will be Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers, with other favorites including the South Tx Homies and Ruben de la Cruz and Ruben Garza.
The Conjunto Cats will open Saturday’s concert, followed by other popular bands including Los Fantasmas del Valle, Los Garcia Brothers and headliners Tony Tigre Saenz y La Rosa de Oro.
Sunday’s show Will bring accordion legend Eva Ybarra to the stage, followed by the equally legendary Flaco Jimenez performing with Los Texmaniacs. Boni Mauricio y Los Maximos will close the show.
Student conjuntos from the Rio Grande Valley and San Antonio will complement the Saturday and Sunday main stage performances.
A full list of performers is available on the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s festival website.
Daily tickets and three-day passes for the Tejano Conjunto Festival are available online or in person at the Guadalupe Latino Bookstore next door to the Progreso gallery at 1300 Guadalupe St. The bookstore is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets for Thursday’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner are available separately for $35 each. Inductees Mike Garza, Ramon Gutierrez and singer Cruz V. Martinez will perform with Hall of Fame accordionist Bene Medina y Conjunto Aguila.
