Bahia World Music Festival 2019 comes to Puerto Vallarta

Jaír Cabrera, the co-founder of the popular Media Luna band, is the man behind the organization of Bahia World Music Festival. His dream is to create a yearly venue to showcase the incredible talent found around Banderas Bay and other parts of Mexico and bring this talent to the attention of an ever-broader audience, making the area a must on music-loving travelers’ itineraries.

Aside from offering music by super talented musical groups, one of Jair’s favorite features of the festival is a competition designed to motivate aspiring young people to realize their potential to become the future generation of musicians in our community and beyond. Contestants need only be under 18 years of age and play any instrument. The inscription is simple, as outlined on the festival website. There are cash prizes too! Finalists will perform at the festival, and members of the musical community will decide on the winners.

To anyone who follows my articles, it will come as no surprise that I am looking forward to two days of music played by some of my favorite local musicians. Since I first heard each of these groups, I have been amazed at their talents and ever-increasing creativity. Each of them brings its element to the program from the Flamenco music of Tatewari, the Mediterranean and jazz manouche of Moruno, the incredible Gypsy rumba and Latin fusion of Media Luna to the Brazilian jazz of Trem de Minas.

I am also very excited to see and hear the groups that will be visiting us from other parts of Mexico. It is a real privilege to have Pedro Dabdoub with us for this, our first, Bahia World Music Festival. Among his many achievements, he put together several collections of music for a record label, which was mostly responsible for my exposure to World Music, Putumayo.

Pedro Dabdoub was born in Mexico City in 1970 and moved to France at an early age, where he received an extensive education in classical music, mastering a variety of instruments. Returning to Mexico after his years in Paris and later Argentina, Pedro turned to more popular music, jazz, new age, and other creative forms.

He composed music for film and telenovelas. Famous performers like Alejandro Fernandez recorded his music. He produced and compiled new age and folk music for record labels like Putumayo. He is a recipient of numerous awards and celebrated for his contributions to education and many creative projects.

His latest project, Jazzpango, is described as stemming “from different musical streams that are characterized by improvisation – such as jazz, rock, rumba flamenco and huapango” and creating a “surprising, exciting and hypnotic language and environment.” Jazzpango is the group he brings to our festival in its inaugural year.

YaYa Fuentes holds a particular interest for me because of my Peace Corps experience in her native country, Chile, and exposure to the music that came out of the tumultuous period from which she and her family fled. Add to that her mastery of the very rare musical instrument, the hang drum, which in addition to being so singular, she learned to play in Switzerland while living with the family who created it. It will be thrilling to watch her as she gracefully extracts magnificent sounds from this extraordinary musical instrument.

I adore the carefree style of the group Caravane and look forward to the vibrant beat of Rabeat, who will have us all on an imaginary dance floor throughout their performance.

The elegant setting of Oscar’s Tequila Distillery, where the festival will take place, is the icing on the cake. With the River Cuale on both sides and the lovely Banderas Bay in front, it is doubtful a more delightful setting could be found to spend two days listening to the awe-inspiring sounds produced by these talented musicians. The festival will take place from 5:00 PM to midnight on both Saturday and Sunday. Paco Ojeda will be the MC for the festival.

For more information and tickets visit the festival website worldmusicfestival.mx. Tickets are also available at Oscar’s Restaurant and Babel Bar, both on River Cuale Island.

By: Christie Seeley

Jaír Cabrera, the co-founder of the popular Media Luna band, is the man behind the organization of Bahia World Music Festival. His dream . . .

Follow Us On Google News | Get Our Newsletter



Trending News on PVDN

  • real estate puerto vallartaHow safe is it to buy real estate in Puerto Vallarta? Jalisco’s Real Estate sector at risk: AMPI Warns Informality threatens Jalisco's booming real estate market. AMPI urges mandatory professional standards to protect consumers and secure investor trust. The president of AMPI Guadalajara, Karen Julieta Correa Cabrales, has raised alarms over the high level of informality in the region's real estate market. She warns that this lack of regulation is jeopardizing both consumer security and…
  • cancunCancún Ranks as Worst Tourist Destination of 2025 According to Google Reviews A recent survey of nearly 100,000 Google reviews has tagged Cancún as the most disappointing tourist city of 2025. The Daily Mail study examined feedback from the world’s 100 busiest destinations and found that 14.2 percent of Cancún’s reviews were negative—the highest share recorded among all cities analyzed. That mark put Cancún two full percentage…
  • no-kings-day-protest-mexico-city-2025Mexico City joins global ‘No Kings Day’ protests Demonstrators in Mexico City took part in No Kings Day to denounce Trump’s use of military force and demand respect for migrant communities in the United States. Dozens of protesters marched through the streets of Mexico City on Saturday as part of “No Kings Day,” a global demonstration denouncing authoritarianism in the United States and…
  • cjngLos Chapitos and CJNG Form Supercartel to Control Mexican Drug Trade Los Chapitos and the CJNG form an unprecedented alliance, escalating cartel violence and drug trafficking threats across Mexico. A new alliance between Los Chapitos, the faction controlled by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, and the powerful Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) has alarmed authorities and analysts, potentially reshaping Mexico’s criminal landscape. The partnership,…
  • no kings dayU.S. Citizens in Puerto Vallarta to hold “No Kings Day” Protest Today U.S. citizens in Puerto Vallarta will join a global “No Kings Day” protest today, denouncing Trump’s immigration raids and defending democratic norms. U.S. citizens residing overseas will gather today in Puerto Vallarta to participate in a global “No Kings Day” protest against President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement actions, particularly recent raids in Los Angeles, organizers…
  • Tropical Storm Dalila MexicoTropical Storm Dalila Mexico Will Bring Heavy Rains to Nine States Tropical Storm Dalila Mexico is set to form off Guerrero’s coast by June 14, unleashing heavy to very heavy rains in Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca and triggering alerts across nine states. The National Water Commission (Conagua) has issued a tropical storm watch as the area of low pressure designated “Four-E” gains organization off the southern coast…
  • cancun-sargassum-arrival-cleanup-effortsCancun sargassum arrival prompts cleanup efforts on beaches Tourism in Cancun faces challenges as the Cancun sargassum arrival brings tons of seaweed ashore, but authorities ramp up cleanup with barriers, machinery and 7,500 meters of booms to keep prime beaches clear. Despite a record influx of sargassum, local officials and private operators in Cancun are intensifying cleanup operations to preserve the city’s beach…
  • security-reinforced-baja-california-mass-grave-homicidesAuthorities bolster security at Baja California Sur border after mass grave discovery Security heightened at Baja California’s border with Baja California Sur after eight bodies found in Bahía de los Ángeles. Recent homicides in Ensenada also prompt targeted state response. Authorities in Baja California have stepped up security along the state's southern border following the discovery of a mass grave containing eight bodies in the coastal town…
  • tropical-storm-warning-cabo-corrientes-dalilaTropical Storm Warning Issued for Cabo Corrientes as Dalila Strengthens Offshore Cabo Corrientes is now under a tropical storm warning as Tropical Storm Dalila strengthens. Residents should prepare for heavy rain, strong winds, and hazardous surf conditions. Residents of Cabo Corrientes woke up to more urgent storm news Saturday as NOAA upgraded the area from a tropical storm watch to a tropical storm warning, signaling that…
  • mayan trainLong distance passenger train revival gains speed in Mexico Mexico moves forward with long distance passenger train revival, upgrading key corridors and preparing four main-line projects to restore services on 3,000 km of track. Mexico is pressing ahead with its long distance passenger revival, moving from planning into delivery with four major refurbishment projects lined up across its national rail network. Bidding has opened…
Scroll to Top