18-04-2025
Fiesta San Antonio's playlist: Gritos and cumbias
Hair-raising gritos and "ay ay ay" chants from the cumbia circle aren't just background noise. They're part of what makes Fiesta, San Antonio's 11-day annual party, feel like a citywide family party.
The vibe: Anthony Medrano, a violinist with the mariachi group Campanas de America, tells Axios that music is woven into Fiesta's fabric — just as Fiesta is into the city's multicultural identity.
"It's just a beautiful blend of every type of music accompanied with a beer and a cascarón," he says.
It's a mix that DJ Noland "Menyo" Arocha, who will spin at Fiesta De Los Reyes, has mastered over 10 years: accordion-heavy cumbias, a sprinkle of country and a dash of freestyle.
Both agree: Fiesta is made for sing-alongs.
What they're saying: "They want to dance, everyone wants to wave their hands in the air and spill their beer a bit," Medrano says. "It's also a time for gritos."
State of play: Arocha and Medrano obliged us by adding a few songs to our always-growing Fiesta playlist. A new addition was "Don't Stop the Party" by Pitbull, submitted by Arocha.
"Even though the cops tell everyone to go home, they still continue partying. That song is so true to Fiesta — I think Pitbull wrote it for Fiesta," he jokes.
Zoom out: When they're not performing, they each have go-to spots to take in the sounds.
