As in past years, the 13th Encuentro Nacional del Mariachi Tradicional (Traditional Mariachi Festival) will precede the big annual mariachi bash, with performances scheduled at several city venues from August 18 to 24.
The difference this year is that, for the first time, the organization of the festival will have nothing to do with the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, which handles the city’s International Mariachi Festival – taking place this year from August 28 to September 7.
The festival is now completely in the hands of the Jalisco Culture Department, which has basically funded the event since its inception.
State authorities are keen to bring this underrepresented form of music to wider audiences and ensure the genre’s preservation.
Whereas the modern mariachi band with its mix of brass and strings, charro outfits and big, bold sound has come to represent Mexico and Jalisco in particular throughout the world, traditional mariachi musicians represent a style closer to son music, the form that gave birth to mariachi in the 19th century. They often wear much less ostentatious loose-fitting white peasant shirts, usually with black or white pants and huarache sandals. The big difference, though, is that they do not employ brass instruments, sticking with guitars and violins, guitars and harps, or some other mix of string instruments. The makeup of the groups varies by region much more than modern mariachi bands.
Next week’s festival features 100 activities with more than 500 participants from 15 states of Mexico. An international symposium titled “Coloquio Internacional “El mariachi: regiones e identidades” will feature 50 experts from Mexico and the United States and include talks, workshops and other academic activities.
Among the festival’s highlights:
- A reinterpretation of early “bar-room” mariachi in the Parián de Tlaquepaque.
- A homage to singer Lucha Reyes on the 70th anniversary of her death at the Teatro Degoalldo, Saturday, August 23, 8:30 p.m.
- An exhibit, “El camino a Olinka” – a homage to Francisco Sánchez Flores, at the Casa de la Cultura Jalisciense Agustín Yáñez.
- Daily free performances in the Plaza Fundadores, behind the Degollado Theater, as well as the Plaza de las Americas in Zapopan.
- A special mariachi velada in the Guadalajara Cathedral.
- A performance of the play “Soy Mariachi” (I am Mariachi) at the Teatro Degollado.
The festival will end with a grand mariachi gala on Sunday, August 24, noon at the Degollado Theater.
There is no charge for any of the events at the festival.
To see the festival’s full program go to www.cultura.jalisco.gob.mx.