{"id":158228,"date":"2026-02-10T10:40:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/158228\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T10:40:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T10:40:19","slug":"free-concert-series-unityfest-starts-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/158228\/","title":{"rendered":"Free concert series UNITYFest starts this week"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weekend San Antonians can enjoy free music performances with talent from around the world right here in town.\u00a0<\/p>\n

UNITYFest is returning to San Antonio for the 11th time, bringing internationally acclaimed artists to put on free concerts at venues throughout the city from Thursday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 15.<\/p>\n

The festival, presented by nonprofit Musical Bridges Around the World<\/a>, will close with a paid soir\u00e9e<\/a> on its final day featuring festive German-style music by the Alex Meixner Band at the Gunter Hotel. Tickets for the closing event start at $60.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Known for its multicultural programming, Musical Bridges works to provide equal access to the arts. The organization says UNITYFest \u201creflects San Antonio\u2019s identity as a cultural crossroads\u201d at concert venues rooted in the city\u2019s history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cUNITYFest reminds us that the strength of this city has always been found in our unity within diversity,\u201d said Anya Grokhovski, founder and CEO in a press release. \u201cOur reason for being is bridging the bounty of world cultures and celebrating their intrinsic beauty.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at this weekend\u2019s lineup. <\/p>\n

Thursday, February 12\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\"\"The Pasatono Orquesta has focused its interest and dedication to research, perform, compose and promote the musical Mixtec culture. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Pasatono Orquesta, an Oaxacan Mexican folk group, is bringing the sounds of Mixtec village orchestras to life with strings, winds and percussion. The event is set to be \u201ca moving performance rooted in Mexican indigenous traditions and cultural memory.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Location: Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway
Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

Friday, February 13 <\/p>\n

\"\"EXTRAD is dedicated to presenting the deep spirit, artistry, and captivating beauty of authentic Japanese traditional performing arts to global audiences and future generations. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Japanese Noh and Ky\u014dgen theater group EXTRAD blends classical artistry with modern storytelling. In this performance, stylized movement, masks and music, aim to give audiences a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture. <\/p>\n

Time: 11 a.m. to noon (matinee) and 7 to 8 p.m. (evening)
Location: Carver Community Cultural Center, 226 N. Hackberry St.
Matinee tickets<\/a> and Evening tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

Saturday, February 14\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\"\"Insun Park is a master of the Gangnyeong Mask Dance, designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 34, and stands out as one of the rare female performers in a traditionally male-dominated art form. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Insun Park & Generals is a fusion of Korean traditional mask dance and modern rock. The group\u2019s performance will blend ancestral rhythms with electric guitar, drums and winds.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Time: 2 to 3 p.m
Location: Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway
Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Socks in the Frying Pan, a multi-award-winning trio from Ennis, County Clare, Ireland \u2014 the mecca of Irish traditional music \u2014 was formed in 2014. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Socks in the Frying Pan is an Irish folk music trio. The group\u2019s \u201cdazzling musicianship, tight harmonies and playful banter\u201d earned them recognition as \u201cLive Band of the Year\u201d from the Celtic Music Awards, among other awards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Time: 5 to 6 p.m.
Location: Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway
Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Saxophonist Shelley Carrol (pictured) and Brad Leali are teaming up for a powerhouse night of jazz. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Saxophonists Shelley Carrol and Brad Leali are teaming up for a performance of American jazz. Their performance is anticipated to blend soul, groove and improvisation backed by a rhythm section. <\/p>\n

Time: 7 to 9 p.m.\u00a0
Location: Stable Hall, 307 Pearl Parkway
Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

Sunday, February 15<\/p>\n

\"\"Kitka is an American women\u2019s vocal arts ensemble inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe and Eurasia founded in 1979. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Kitka is an American women\u2019s vocal ensemble known for its interpretations of Eastern European and Eurasian songs. The group\u2019s performance aims to highlight the cultural depth and storytelling power of centuries-old vocal traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Time: 2 to 3 p.m.
Location: Chapel of the Incarnate Word, 4503 Broadway
Tickets<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Kayhan Kalhor (left) is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso on the kamancheh who, through his many musical collaborations, has been instrumental in popularizing Persian music around the world. Erdal Erzincan (right) is one of Turkey\u2019s most respected folk musicians and a leading master of the ba\u011flama. Credit: Courtesy \/ Musical Bridges Around the World<\/p>\n

Kayhan Kalhor (a Grammy-winning performer of the ancient Iranian bowed string instrument called the kamancheh) and Erdal Erzincan (a renowned performer of the Turkish string instrument the ba\u011flama) are teaming up for a performance of Persian and Turkish folk music.<\/p>\n

Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Majestic Theatre, 224 E Houston Street
Tickets<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This weekend San Antonians can enjoy free music performances with talent from around the world right here in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":158229,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[665,65112,4805,4104,65113,65114,278,65115,65116,82,84,83,3028,6251,65117],"class_list":["post-158228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-diversity","tag-free-concerts","tag-icymi","tag-international","tag-international-artists","tag-multicultural","tag-music","tag-music-performances","tag-musical-bridges-around-the-world","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-news","tag-typedaily","tag-wc-500-750","tag-world-cultures"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158228"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158228\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}