Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow will be part of a mostly-’80s lineup at La Semana Alegre.
Dana Jacobs/WireImage
If Fiesta were a jukebox, it wouldn’t be a Wurlitzer playing scratchy 45s or a digital machine with access to countless streams. It would be one of those CD jukeboxes that popped up in bars and clubs in the ’80s and ’90s.
That’s the era that many of Fiesta’s music-forward parties are reaching back to, whether it’s classic Tejano, the popular New Wave covers of Spazmatics or legacy bands such as A Flock of Seagulls and Candlebox.
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Country singer Rick Trevino is playing Fredstock this year.
Courtesy Rick Trevino
Fastball will be heading down from Austin to play a new event at Pullman Market.
Scott Legato/Getty Images
Ram Herrera is one of the Tejano stars who will be playing Fiesta de los Reyes.
Joey Guerra
RELATED: Family-friendly fun at Fiesta
Here’s a guide to let you know which Fiesta events will punch your musical buttons.
First weekend
Fiesta de Los Reyes: There’s a big change this year to the 10-day celebration that bills itself as “the epicenter of Fiesta.” During peak hours, admission will cost $5 to the event, which formerly was free, to help pay for beefed up security. Otherwise, this Market Square staple is much the same, with classic Tejano acts such as Jay Perez, Latin Breed, Ruben Ramos and Ram Herrera on multiple stages. Friday-April 26, Market Square, 514 W. Commerce St., fiestadelosreyes.com.
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Candlebox is a Fiesta Oyster Bake headliner.
Scott Legato/Getty Images
Fiesta Oyster Bake: The San Diego rock band Switchfoot, known for songs such as “Dare You to Move” and “Stars,” and “Far Behind” rockers Candlebox are among the big names at St. Mary’s University’s mollusk and music festival. Also on the bill are “America’s Got Talent” contestant Drake Milligan, Dallas rock band Drowning Pool, Lubbock country rock band Pecos and the Rooftops and Tejano acts David Farias y La Tropa F and Chente Barrera. Friday and Saturday, St. Mary’s University, 1 Camino Santa Maria, oysterbake.com.
A Taste of New Orleans: Like the food at this three-day festival, the music — jazz, zydeco, blues and R&B — has a Big Easy accent. Among those taking the stage will be soul-jazz flute player Althea René, Marcus Ardoin and Da Zydeco Legendz and a tribute to the Houston jazz fusion group the Crusaders. Friday-Sunday, Sunken Garden Theater, 3875 N. St. Mary’s St., saza.org.
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Mitch Webb and the Swindles will be playing the Fiesta Arts Fair and the King William Fair during Fiesta.
Mitch Webb and the Swindles/Express-News file photo
Fiesta Arts Fair: This long-running arts festival has music, too, hitting a variety of genres without venturing too far from the city limits. The lineup includes roots rock from Mitch Webb and the Swindles; gypsy jazz by Los Djangoleros; cumbias from Los Desechos; Western swing by Georgia Parker; and almost everything under the sun from Oro Conjunto, a side-project of Shiny Ribs front man Kevin Russell. Saturday and Sunday, University of Texas — San Antonio Southwest Campus, 300 Augusta St., utsa.edu.
RELATED: See every Fiesta poster since 1981
Pachanga at Pullman: This new, unofficial event at the Pearl will feature a couple of ’90s alt-rock acts, Eve 6 (“Inside Out”) and Fastball (“The Way”). The celebration also will include activities for kids, including a slime-making station, vendors and food from Pearl businesses such as Freight Chicken, Henbit and Fife & Faro. Saturday, Pullman Market, 221 Newell St., pullmanmarket.com.
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Chaparral Music Festival: Country music used to be the focus of this festival, but this year’s event will feature New Wave cover band Spazmatics. Saturday, Travis Park, 301 E. Travis St., saparks.org.
Chanclas Y Cervezas: Maybe Spazmatics should have their own Fiesta medal; the cover band also is playing this event, where revelers can toss a chancla or toss back a beer while listening to songs originally performed by the Cars and Duran Duran. Saturday, The Greenline, 2532 Sidney Brooks, livebrooks.com.
Midweek
A Night in Old San Antonio: Dirty River Jazz Band joins the musical lineup this year at A Night in Old San Antonio; they’ll be playing in the Main Street USA neighborhood. Returning acts include the Groove Doctors, the E7 Band, the Celsius Band and the Triple J Band. Tuesday-April 24, La Villita, 418 Villita St., niosa.org.
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Ford Mariachi Festival: Mariachis and folklorico dancers from area schools perform on barges on the San Antonio River. April 23-24, River Walk downtown, thesanantonioriverwalk.com.
Fiesta Gartenfest: The Beethoven Maennerchor’s concert and dance bands present music to raise a stein to, from oompah tuba tunes to the Chicken Dance. April 22-24, Beethoven Maennerchor, 422 Pereida St., beethovensanantonio.com.
10th Street River Festival: Tejano and cover bands will take the stage at this free festival presented by VFW Post 76, the oldest VFW post in Texas, at its historic home on the San Antonio River. April 23-25, 10 10th St., vfwpost76.org.
The Battle of Flowers Band Festival is all halftime, no football.
Matthew Busch / Contributor/For The San Antonio Express-News
Battle of the Flowers Band Festival: If halftime is your favorite part of high school football games, this is the Fiesta event for you. More than 30 area high school bands, including UIL contest winners, will take part; the finale features about 4,000 musicians performing. April 23, Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Drive, battleofflowers.org.
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PACfest: The norteño band Los Tigrillos headlines Palo Alto College’s Fiesta bash. The lineup also includes Grupo Control and Los Palominos. April 23, Palo Alto College, 1400 W. Villaret Blvd., alamo.edu/pac.
Fredstock: San Antonio College’s Fiesta music festival will feature country singer and Los Super Seven member Rick Trevino, Grupo Massore and alternative funk band Street Lamp. April 23, San Antonio College, 1819 N. Main Ave., fredstockmusicfest.org.
La Semana Alegre: Now an official Fiesta event, this revived music festival will big on the ’80s on its first night, with performances by A Flock of Seagulls, Men Without Hats and Bow Wow Wow. Austin’s electronic rock duo Ghostland Observatory and synth pop act 54 Ultra headline Day 2. April 23-24, Hemisfair, lasemanaalegre.com.
Second weekend
Fiesta Jazz Festival: Adam Larson, a sax player from Kansas City, is the featured performer at this year’s jazz fest. His 2022 album “With Love, From Chicago” received a 4.5-star rating from Downbeat magazine. April 24, University of the Incarnate Word, 1 Camino Santa Maria, stmarytx.edu.
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King William Fair: The family festival in the King William Historic District may have the widest array of entertainment of any Fiesta event, from magic and puppets to mariachi and rock. Multiple stages will feature live music by such San Antonio mainstays Nina Diaz, Michelle Garibay-Carey, Claude “Butch” Morgan and Los #3 Dinners. April 25 in the historic neighborhood bounded by South Alamo Street, South St. Mary’s Street, East Guenther Street and the San Antonio River, kwfair.org.
Mission Fest: Enjoy a day of music at Mission San José, including performances by Ruben Ramos, Moses Bravo and Chente Barrera with Oscar G and Raulito Navaira. April 26, Mission San Jose, 701 E. Pyron, Facebook: @SanJoseMissionFest.
Festival de Cascarones: This Fiesta finale will feature music by Jaime Olivares y Los Mensajeros Del Sabor, Vinny Tovar, David Olivares and Lucky Joe. April 26, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, One University Way, tamusa.edu.
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