photo: Gerald von Foris
There's nothing cooler than a good old-fashioned neighborhood block party, and Festival En El Barrio Viejo will kick up the hip factor quite a few notches come Saturday, April 3.
Situated in - you guessed it - Downtown's Barrio Viejo, the event features locally beloved, internationally renowned Calexico & Friends along with Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta, Crawdaddy-O, Tom Walbank, Naim Amor, Salvador Duran, Fourkiller Flats, Silver Thread Trio, Courtney Robbins and Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School. Click here for times.
The shindig is a fund raiser for KXCI, 91.3FM, and is a twist on the station's previous benefit performances by Calexico.
"We started the annual KXCI radio benefit concerts in January 2001 as a way to give back to the station for playing original and creative programming," said Calexico's Joey Burns. "We are extremely grateful to the Tucson community and we thought giving back would be a way to show our appreciation."
Burns said the idea for a block party was based on the desire to do something different "after last year's concerts at The Heritage Pavilion in Phoenix and the All Soul's Procession benefit and filming of Flor de Muertos at The Rialto.
"Charlie (Levy of Stateside Presents) thought we should perform with a bunch of local groups and artists in Barrio Viejo. I think the combination of place and music will be a great setting for this year's event. There will be lots of music on two different stages from mid day until sunset, decorations, food, and drinks."
More information is at KXCI.org and RialtoTheatre.com; tickets are $18-$25. Entrance to the festival will be at 198 W. Cushing St.
