A Desert Music Festival
Saturday, March 22nd, 4 – 10 pm
Doors at 3:30 pm
MSA Annex · 267 South Avenida del Convento Tucson, AZ
Reyna Tropical
Los Esplifs, Native Creed, Hataałii, Nicosa, MizSkoden, Las Chollas Peligrosas
Tickets: KXCI Members $30, GA $35, Day of $40
KXCI presents Baila el Pueblo–A Desert Music Festival celebrating our regional cultural diversity. The festival will showcase a vibrant array of musical traditions from around the southwest. There will be local food vendors and artisans on-site.
Internationally touring artist Reyna Tropical will headline the festival. Inspired by the wide-reaching cultural traditions of Peru, Colombia, and the Congo, trailblazing guitarist and songwriter Fabi Reyna remixes and melds these influences to create a tropical feel. Regional artists include Los Esplifs, Native Creed, Hataałii, Nicosa, MizSkoden and Las Chollas Peligrosas.
Reyna Tropical
Malegría, Reyna Tropical’s long-anticipated debut full-length album, is at once a vibrant arrival and an electrifying bridge. The portmanteau, born from a 1998 Manu Chao song by the same name, is akin to bittersweet and blends the Spanish “mal” which means “bad” and “alegría” which means “happiness.” It marks Reyna Tropical’s movement from a duo to a solo project. The album is a contemporary celebration and continuation of wide-reaching cultural traditions—from Congolese, Peruvian, and Colombian rhythms to revolutionary artists like lesbian guitarist-singer Chavela Vargas—these influences meld and are remixed through the distinctive lens of trailblazing guitarist and songwriter Fabi Reyna. Traversing themes including queer love, feminine sensuality, and the transformative power of intentional relations to the earth, Malegría spotlights narratives often pushed to the margins and offers them a sonic homeland.
Formed in 2016, Reyna Tropical began as an organic, unhurried exchange between Fabi Reyna and Nectali “Sumohair” Diaz who met during a workshop series for emerging musicians. “Our first EP was so spur of the moment,” Reyna recalled. “What we needed was to document, to just do something for our hearts. Not for money, not for our livelihood. Just for us.” The band formed when Reyna had been immersed in full-time work founding and building She Shreds, the world’s first magazine dedicated to women and nonbinary guitarists, and was itching for a creative release and return to her musical roots. By January 2018, the band’s self-titled EP, Reyna Tropical, dropped and the foundations of the band’s spellbinding and distinctive sound were documented and formed. Best known for their rhythmic, hip-swaying tropical feel, the first Reyna Tropical tracks featured Ableton-made beats produced by Diaz—featuring Afro Indigenous drum patterns and environmental samples—expertly mixed with dreamy guitar riffs and soft vocals by Reyna.
Los Esplifs
Los Esplifs has been cultivating a following of dancers, psychonauts and all around “cool” kids since their start in the Arizona D.I.Y Scene in 2018. Los Esplifs blends folkloric music of Latin America with the attitude of American music such as Jazz, Hiphop and Punk. Since 2018, they have released 3 full works; “Self Titled”(2019) ,“Estraik Back” (2021) and their most recent album “Chemistry” (2023) . Known for explosive live performances and wild stage antics, Los Esplifs have performed in national and international festivals. Their latest single “Cenizas” (2024) is now available.
MizSkoden
Mhails from Tucson (Chukson) Az. Percusionista of nearly 25 years, DJ and producer. Pulling inspiration from her Yaqui (yoeme) Mayo (yoreme) roots. Honoring the rhythms that were created through black and indigenous struggles of survival, to decolonize the dance floor.
Nicosa
Nicosa is the creative project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Nicole Paco. With her debut 5-track EP, ERA, she immerses listeners in a bold and unfiltered approach to rock and roll, seamlessly blending elements of Latin pop, psychedelic influences, and raw guitar-driven energy. Her music is characterized by a unique fusion of Spanish lyricism, infectious grooves, and introspective moments, as she draws on her diverse Mexican-American roots to create a sound that’s both personal and universal. Nicosa’s harmonies are lush, her rhythms funky, and the textures of her songs are dreamlike yet grounded in a deep, authentic connection to her heritage.
ERA was recorded entirely in analog at Oracle Recording Studio, with the expertise of Austin Owen, Francis Kelly, and Alex Tighe, resulting in a sound that’s both timeless and fresh.
From the border town of Rio Rico, AZ, Nicosa embraces her identity as an independent artist, channeling her rich cultural tapestry into every note and lyric she creates.
Native Creed and Las Chollas Peligrosas
If you’re interested in sponsorships, vendor opportunities, or have questions about the event, please email [email protected].