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USA Today
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mexican band Grupo Firme cancels festival appearance because of US visa issue
Mexican band Grupo Firme cancels festival appearance because of US visa issue The Tijuana-based regional music group is among a growing number of Mexican musicians who have had abrupt visa issues. Show Caption Hide Caption Spotted: Pedro Pascal in economy class on his way to Cannes Actor Pedro Pascal went viral for his comments on U.S. immigration at Cannes Film Festival. The Mexican band Grupo Firme canceled their headlining June 1 performance at a California music festival because the group said their visas were currently in an 'administrative process' to enter the country. The Tijuana-based regional Mexican music group is among a growing number of Mexican musicians who have had abrupt visa issues, sometimes for alleged ties to drug cartels, during the second Trump administration. It wasn't immediately clear what caused visa issues for Grupo Firme to enter the country for their June 1 performance at La Onda Fest, in Napa Valley. The band offered no further details aside from a May 30 post on Instagram Stories. The post said the United States Embassy currently had visas in an 'administrative process' for bandmates and their record label, Music VIP. This made it 'impossible' for them to attend the Mexican music festival. 'We are sorry for the inconvenience that this may cause,' the post said in Spanish. 'We appreciate your understanding and, above all, the love of our fans in the United States.' In an emailed response, the Department of State said visa records are confidential by law, so they couldn't comment on the case. Officials didn't respond to questions about the basis for the visa issue, or about the 'administrative process' the band described. The group said they would share news of their return to the United States when they can make new plans. Mexican singer Julión Álvarez said he had his visa revoked ahead of a sold-out May 24 show at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. In 2017, Álvarez had his visa revoked after being accused of ties to a drug trafficker, though he denied this. He was taken off a list in 2022, and he was in the country as recently as April to perform three sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Earlier this year, the State Department revoked the visas for Los Alegres del Barranco, after the band displayed an image of Mexican drug lord Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho,' at a concert in Mexico in late March. The group had an American tour planned. On X, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the department canceled Los Alegres' work and tourist visas for "glorifying" Oseguera Cervantes, who is head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. In 2021, Grupo Firme won a Latin Grammy for best banda album. The group is known for songs such as "Ya Supérame" and "Cada Quién." But in February, the group canceled a festival performance in Mazatlán, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, after being threatened by a suspected drug cartel. The threat reportedly came in the form of a narcomanta – a banner used by drug cartels to communicate messages – displayed on a bridge, as well as a severed human head found nearby, addressed to Grupo Firme. Grupo Firme has sought to distance itself from music known as narcocorridos, or drug ballads, that have gained an international following, coinciding with a global rise in the popularity of regional Mexican music. States in Mexico have sought to ban the subgenre of corridos, or Mexican ballads. In April, Grupo Firme's lead singer, Eduin Caz, said the group doesn't perform narcocorridos. Their music, focused on love and heartbreak, 'has fed us very well,' he said at a press conference. La Onda Fest was set to take place May 31 to June 1, with Grupo Firme slated as the last act on the second day. The festival said Tito Double P, a corridos singer from Sinaloa, would replace Grupo Firme.
USA Today
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Grupo Firme cancels Mexico concert after alleged threat by drug cartel: 'Deeply saddened'
Grupo Firme cancels Mexico concert after alleged threat by drug cartel: 'Deeply saddened' Grupo Firme has been forced to cancel an upcoming festival appearance after the Regional Mexican group was reportedly targeted by a drug cartel. In a joint statement with its record label Music VIP, shared via Instagram, Group Firme confirmed the group would no longer be performing at the 2025 Carnaval Mazatlán on Saturday. "We are deeply saddened to inform you that Grupo Firme's March 1 show at Carnaval Mazatlán is canceled," the statement read, in Spanish. "For Music VIP, the well-being of those who have accompanied us on this journey: our family, which is all of you, our fans are and always will be the most important." Grupo Firme and Music VIP did not confirm the reason for the performance's cancellation in the Instagram Story post. "We hope to be able to meet again soon to sing, celebrate and continue making history with you," the statement concluded. Representatives for Grupo Firme and Music VIP were not available for comment at the time of publication. Grupo Firme is not the only Regional Mexican act to find itself in the crosshairs of narco crime. In 2023, singer Peso Pluma was forced to scrap a series of shows after being threatened by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Grupo Firme allegedly targeted in drug cartel threat Wednesday's cancellation comes after the award-winning group, known for hits such as "Cada Quien," "El Beneficio de La Duda" and "Te Va a Doler," was allegedly targeted by drug traffickers on Tuesday in Tijuana, Mexico. According to reports from Telemundo San Diego and Mexican publication El Universal, a narco manta — a banner used by cartels to communicate threats publicly — was posted on a bridge and addressed to Grupo Firme. Per the outlets, the narco manta's message, written in Spanish, read: "Grupo Firme, if you play at the Carnaval Mazatlán, we're going to kill all of you. Remember that you live in Tijuana. We're even going to kill the person who puts up the lights." Peso Pluma targeted by Mexican cartel: Singer cancels Tijuana show following threats Along with the banner, a severed head was found on top of a plastic green box in the narco manta's location, according to Telemundo San Diego. Authorities have yet to identify the victim. According to the outlets, the organization behind the narco manta has not been identified, although the Baja California district attorney shared that an investigation is underway. Grupo Firme's performance at Carnaval Mazatlán was set to be the kickoff of the group's upcoming spring tour. The band's next concert stop is scheduled for April 4 and 5 at Palenque Expogan in Hermosillo, Mexico, according to the Grupo Firme website. Contributing: Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grupo Firme Cancels Show in Mazatlán After Alleged Death Threats From Drug Cartel
Grupo Firme canceled a performance at a carnival scheduled for this Saturday (March 1) in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, after a message on a banner with alleged death threats attributed to a drug cartel appeared in its hometown of Tijuana. The regional Mexican music band confirmed on Wednesday (Feb. 26) the suspension of its concert in an official statement. 'We deeply regret informing you that the presentation of Grupo Firme for this March 1st at the Mazatlán Carnival is canceled,' reads the statement shared on the band's Instagram Stories. 'For Music VIP, the well-being of those who have accompanied us on this path — our family, which is you, our fans — is and will always be the most important thing. We hope to be able to meet again soon to sing, celebrate and continue making history together.' More from Billboard Carlos Vives Winds Through Biggest Hits at Viña Del Mar, Earns Gaviotas de Plata & Oro De La Rose, Whatuprg & More Emerging Latin Artists on Our Radar How to Watch Carlos Vives and Carín León Perform at Viña del Mar 2025 The cancelation of the show — originally announced as part of the Carnaval de Mazatlán, which starts Thursday (Feb. 27) and lasts until March 4 — came after the discovery of an alleged narcomanta and a human head in a box on Tuesday (Feb. 25) in Tijuana. The fact was confirmed to Billboard Español by the Baja California State Prosecutor's Office, which said that an investigation has already been opened. Requests for comments sent by Billboard Español to Music VIP and a representative for Grupo Firme on Wednesday night weren't answered at press time. On Wednesday morning, the Sinaloa authorities had confirmed that the Mazatlán Carnival would go on without changes, after stating that there were security guarantees for Grupo Frontera and attendees. This announcement was made by the Secretary of the Government of Sinaloa, Feliciano Castro, at a press conference. But hours later, the band led by singer Eduin Caz announced what was imminent: The cancellation of their presentation at the event. There, Grupo Firme was supposed to kick off the Mexican leg of its successful La Última Peda Tour, which included 14 dates in the country and two festivals in the U.S. The trek is produced by an alliance of promoters Music VIP, Music VIBE, Cohumanity and other companies. The Mexican state of Sinaloa has seen over 800 homicides in the last five months, according to official figures reported by Spanish news agency EFE, since an internal struggle began last September between two factions of the cartel of the same name after the capture of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, co-founder of that criminal organization that now demands that the U.S. repatriate him to Mexico. Grupo Firme now joins a series of regional Mexican acts that have received alleged threats from drug trafficking groups, forcing the cancellation of their performances in territories in conflict with criminal organizations. One of the most memorable cases is that of corridos superstar Peso Pluma, who had to cancel six shows, including a performance in Tijuana scheduled for October 2023, when alleged threats were issued against him by criminal groups. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
