La Onda festival loses major act as Grupo Firme is denied entry to U.S.
Grupo Firme, the chart-topping regional Mexican band based in Tijuana, has canceled its appearance at this weekend's La Onda festival in Napa, after being denied entry into the United States.
The group was slated to headline the closing night of the two-day celebration on Sunday, June 1, at the Napa Valley Expo, but announced the cancellation just days from their festival debut.
'Currently, visas for Grupo Firme ... are undergoing an administrative process at the US Embassy,' the band wrote on Instagram on Friday, May 30. '(It's) a situation that makes it impossible for Grupo Firme to perform at La Onda Fest as planned.'
Festival organizers confirmed the cancellation and announced that rising corrido star Tito Double P will take Grupo Firme's place on the Verizon Stage on Sunday.
Now in its second year, La Onda has quickly become a major celebration of Latin music and culture in Northern California, with more than 60,000 attendees at its debut in 2024. This year's event, which begins Saturday, May 31, boasts major acts such as Marco Antonio Solís, Banda MS, Pepe Aguilar, Ángela Aguilar and Alicia Villarreal.
'There was something missing in the Northern California festival scene — an authentic, large-scale festival dedicated 100% to Latino culture,' said organizer Dave Graham, whose team is also behind the annual BottleRock Napa Valley festival hosted over Memorial Day weekend.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Concerns at Napa's La Onda festival after musicians' visas revoked
The Brief The popular regional Mexican band Grupo Firme announced they had to cancel Sunday night's performance after the U.S. government suspended the musicians' visas. The State Department has revoked visas of several Mexican artists over music it says glorifies cartel violence. Festival goers say they're upset, with some calling the move political, while organizers say they're disappointed by the development. NAPA, Calif. - There are concerns over federal immigration policy at a Napa music festival this weekend. A couple of the bands, including a very popular group from Mexico, were forced to pull out of La Onda over problems with their visas. "This is what we come here for right here," said Alfonzo Robles of Santa Rosa. "It's just the music, the ambiance," said Maria Rangel of Reno, Nevada. Music fans were having a blast at Festival La Onda, which features all sorts of Latin music acts. "We are big fans of Carin Leon," said Rangel. But it's who didn't take the stage that's raising some eyebrows. The regional Mexican band Grupo Firme announced on Instagram they had to cancel Sunday night's performance, after the U.S. government suspended the musicians' visas. The backstory The State Department has revoked the visas of several Mexican artists over music it says glorifies cartel violence – though Grupo Firme has recently taken steps to distance themselves from that lyrical content. What they're saying "I think it's sad," said Guadalupe Torres of Carson City, Nevada. "We're very, very disappointed," said Robles. "We all paid for this. This is what we came here for. And now [Grupo Firme] can't be here because of some political reason," said Robles. The Mexican group La Receta also pulled out of La Onda over reported visa issues as well. "They're not stealing anything, they come here to work," said singer Vilma Diaz of the Colombian group Sonora Tropicana, which did perform at La Onda this weekend. Big picture view "Artists don't know how to navigate the system right now. There's a lot of roadblocks that pop up unexpectedly," said Alex Ashley, a musician and journalist for Rolling Stone. Ashley says he's concerned foreign artists will give up on even trying to come to festivals like this. "When artists cancel or when events get canceled, you've got local economies that miss out. You've got hotel bookings, fewer ticket sales, jobs that get lost," said Ashley. A few people KTVU spoke to at the festival say those same concerns over immigration policy may have kept some concertgoers home as well. Local perspective "I'm pretty sure maybe it did affect some people because people don't want to go out. People don't want to go anywhere, do anything because they're afraid of these persecutions," said Robles. "To all my people, please don't be afraid," said Diaz. Festival goers say all this underscores why gatherings like La Onda are so important. "I think this just gives people the confidence to be out here and just feel that they have a community behind them," said Rangel. In a statement, David Graham, partner with Festival La Onda, said festival organizers understand and share in the disappointment, but added that organizers and performers are still dedicated to putting on an unforgettable show. "We are obviously disappointed that Grupo Firme was not able to play the festival due to visa issues," Graham said. "Our fans have been enjoying over two dozen incredible artists that are performing over the weekend. These are unprecedented and challenging times, and we remain committed to providing a memorable experience for fans of La Onda." The Source Instagram post by Grupo Firme, statement from Festival La Onda organizers, and interviews conducted by KTVU reporter John Krinjak and producer Estefany Mendez
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Carín León battles through vocal struggles to close La Onda festival
It may sound harsh to call Carín León's headlining set at La Onda a disappointment, but if you asked the singer from Sonora, he might nod in agreement. León took the main stage Sunday, June 1, with visible strain and an ailing voice, powering through a closing set that capped the second edition of Wine Country's Latin-focused festival with more grit than glory. His delivery — hoarse, limited, at times painfully distant from his signature resonance — was far from the vocal force that has propelled him into the upper tiers of Latin music stardom. Still, he pressed on. 'There is no fire in my voice,' he admitted to the crowd, 'but I'm going to put heart into it.' That became the mantra of the night. What followed was near- 80 minutes of raw effort and improvised remedies: a red elixir (Chloraseptic throat spray? Tequila?), a banana between songs, apologies to the tens of thousands gathered in front of the La Onda stage. Ever the professional, León never walked off stage (albeit ending his set five minutes early) but he couldn't rise to the performance either. The crowd — warm, forgiving and singing along — carried the set as much as he did. There were highlights. His rendition of 'Tennessee Whiskey,' a nod to the crossover appeal that made him the only artist to perform at both BottleRock Napa Valley and La Onda this year, earned a swell of cheers. But the cover and most of his offerings on Sunday felt more like a reminder of what wasn't working rather than what was. La Onda's organizers had bet heavily on León. Already a banner booking for BottleRock the weekend before, he was elevated to headline La Onda on Sunday after Grupo Firme abruptly canceled after being denied entry into the United States. Tito Doble P, the rising star of corridos tumbados, was shifted to the Verizon Stage and León moved to the main stage to anchor the night. But despite his high energy and momentum, the field in front of him never quite filled. The gravity was with León, and so was the weight. That's what lingered. Not the missed notes or the rasping falsetto attempts, but the sheer will of an artist who refused to bail. 'No me voy a rajar,' he said multiple times. León didn't deliver a masterclass in vocal performance, but he delivered something human. Some nights, the voice doesn't show up; Sunday was one of them. But the heart did — and for that, Carín León still earned his moment under La Onda's closing lights.
San Francisco Chronicle
9 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
La Onda Latin music festival thrives in Napa Valley, despite setback
Festival La Onda made a lively return to Wine Country over the weekend, marking its second year with an exuberant celebration of Latin music, food and culture. Despite a last-minute setback when Grupo Firme, one of Latin music's most prominent acts, was forced to cancel after being denied entry into the United States, the festival's spirit remained unshaken. Hosted at the Napa Valley Expo on Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1, the event still saw an estimated 20,000 spectators each day, all reveling in a weekend of high-energy performances and a deep sense of community. Indeed, La Onda has carved out its own identity, distinct from the annual BottleRock Napa Valley festival, which is produced by the same team in the same spot over Memorial Day weekend. While BottleRock draws crowds from all over the Bay Area for rock and pop acts, La Onda is an immersive Latinx cultural experience, complete with rows of taco trucks, low riders and the unmistakable sounds of mariachi bands and lucha libre matches. 'It is wonderful to see the Latino community celebrating at La Onda,' said Dave Graham, partner at BottleRock, the team behind both festivals. 'You can feel a shift as soon as they enter the festival gates. The name La Onda translates to 'the vibe', and we are grateful to be able to provide our fans with such a supportive environment in these challenging times.' Here are some of the highlights from the festival, which concludes Sunday, June 1. Sunday, June 1 Adriana Ríos opens final day with commanding performance Adriana Ríos, an up-and-coming force in Regional Mexican music, kicked off the festival at noon on Sunday with a captivating performance that showcased her powerful vocal range. The Tijuana-born singer-songwriter, known for her commanding stage presence, delivered a mix of tracks from her debut album, 2021's 'Contundente,' and her sophomore release, 2022's 'La Lotería.' Her set seamlessly blended Colombian pop influences with mariachi, norteño rhythms and dramatic romantic ballads, setting the bar high for everyone who followed the rest of the day. — Aidin Vaziri Saturday, May 31 Marco Antonio Solís proves he's far from finished Few artists on La Onda's lineup could unite a crowd the way Marco Antonio Solís did to close out the second annual festival's first night. Old and young sang along to songs like 'Y Ahora Te Vas,' proof of the lasting imprint Solís has made over four decades. (The crowd's rendition of 'Tu Cárcel,' arguably the biggest Latin pop song of the '80s, was without a doubt the highlight of the entire day.) Late in the set, Solís lightened the mood by dancing to a Mexican remix of Kendrick Lamar 's 'Not Like Us' wrapped in Mexican flair. While other artists of his pedigree and longevity fade to the pages of history, Solís shows no signs of slowing down. And if the size of his crowd at La Onda while he closed out with 'La Venia Bendita' and 'Si No Te Hubiera Ido' is any indication, Solís is not in a farewell phase. — Julio Lara Pepe Aguilar honors tradition and evolution Pepe Aguilar took the La Onda stage not as a throwback but as proof of continuity — of how tradition holds when it evolves with integrity. 'Hermoso Cariño' became an instant sing-along, with thousands of voices lifting in reverence for a living legend. With 'Miedo,' he delivered a masterclass in crossover without compromise, solidifying his role as a blueprint for the current wave of genre-fluid regional artists. Later in the set, he captivated the audience with the timeless one-two punch of 'Prometiste' and 'Por Mujeres Como Tú.' Then came the encore: a 15-minute return to his mariachi roots, rich and measured. For an artist who's been touring since birth, Aguilar's ability to conjure raw emotion over and over is its own kind of gift. '¡Que viva el movimiento Latino!' he declared near the end of his performance— not as applause bait but as benediction. In true Aguilar tradition and lineage, his daughter Ángela will take the same stage on Sunday. Saturday evening, Pepe made sure it was blessed first. — Julio Lara Xavi soulful corridos captivate La Onda crowd Leave it to one of the festival's youngest stars to give La Onda its first real breath of life. Kicking off with 'Poco a Poco,' Xavi's songs moved like molasses in the festival sun — slow, methodical, and heavy with heart. At just 20 years old, the ASCAP Latin Songwriter of the Year carries the weight of soul-wrenching lyrics in a body still young enough to wear braces. His corridos tumbados don't chase tempo; they simmer beneath it, rich with brass and anchored by bass lines that don't just vibrate — they bruise. With only seven musicians onstage, Xavi leans into restraint over spectacle, letting minimalism magnify the melancholy. He debuted 'Qué Hay Que Hacer' live, but it was 'En Privado' that triggered the afternoon's first eruption — until, of course, he performed his chart-toppers. Draped in a Mexican flag for the final stretch, Xavi transformed heartbreak into heritage, striking a chord that went deeper than melody. 'La Diabla' and 'La Víctima' closed the set.
