KXCI Presents — Baila el Pueblo

A Desert Music Festival celebrating our regional cultural diversity

KXCI’s 2nd Annual Baila el Pueblo–A Desert Music Festival returns Saturday, March 21, 2026. Join us as we celebrate our regional cultural diversity during this all-day musical showcase at Cathedral Square in the heart of Downtown Tucson. In 2025, more than 1,000 guests experienced a vibrant array of southwestern musical traditions along with an eclectic marketplace of local food vendors and artisans. With your help, 2026 will be even better!

To that end, KXCI is thrilled to present our festival headliner–Mexican Institute of Sound (M.I.S.), the acclaimed project of Mexico City-based musician, DJ, and producer Camilo Lara. For over two decades, M.I.S. has blended funk, cumbia, and electronic music with folk and traditional influences, celebrating the diverse sounds that weave together Mexico’s intricate cultural tapestry. Known for electrifying live performances and a fearless approach to sonic experimentation, Lara has collaborated with artists worldwide and here in Tucson, bringing Mexico’s vibrant musical landscape to audiences everywhere.

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Mexican Institute of Sound
Ruben “El Gato Negro” Ramos featuring
Carrie Rodriguez & Sergio Mendoza & Friends
La Texana
Dámaris Bójor
Las Azaleas
Sage Lacapa
D Faktion Nyne
DJ Set by Afrizona

Mexican Institute of Sound

Mexico City-based producer Camilo Lara creates irresistible beats for the global dance floor with his project: Mexican Institute of Sound. He writes music for film, TV and video games – sometimes composing the score, other times creating songs or incidental music. His work as a composer has landed him an Emmy, and as an artist and musical supervisor, he’s received multiple Grammy nominations and awards.

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As an artist and producer, Camilo’s work has landed him one Grammy and eight Latin Grammy nominations. He produced the best-selling album in Mexico of the last 25 years (Los Ángeles Azules). His production credits include a wide spectrum of artists ranging from rap superstar Santa Fe Klan and the king of Corridos Tumbados Natanael Cano, to legendary artists like Lila Downs, Norah Jones and Calexico. He has produced artists from across a broad range of genres, be it contemporary Congolese icons Jupiter & the Okwess, Band of Horses, Beck or Damon Albarn’s eclectic Africa Express.

Artists that have commissioned remixes from Camilo include: Metallica, Run the Jewels, Beck, Beastie Boys, Morrissey, Placebo, Interpol, Don Letts, Madness, Julieta Venegas, Tony Allen, Babasonicos, Hermitude, Amadou & Marian and Sofi Tukker, to name just a few.

Time Magazine named Camilo “One of the 80 Mexicans shaping contemporary Culture.” Spanish newspaper El Pais named him one of the “50 Most Influential People in Latin America.” Quien magazine named him one of the “50 People Who Are Transforming Mexico.”

Ruben “El Gato Negro” Ramos featuring
Carrie Rodriguez & Sergio Mendoza & Friends

Ruben Ramos, known as El Gato Negro, is a Grammy Award-winning Tejano legend whose career spans over seven decades. A proud member of a multigenerational musical family, Ramos rose to fame as frontman of The Mexican Revolution, a band rooted in Chicano pride and cultural empowerment. In 1998, he was inducted into both the Pura Vida and Tejano Music Awards Halls of Fame. He earned his first Grammy in 1999 as part of the all-star group Los Super Seven, and a second in 2009 with The Mexican Revolution for Best Tejano Album. With two Grammy wins, countless recordings, and a public sculpture in Austin honoring his contributions, Ramos remains a defining voice in Tejano and Texas music history.

Baila el Pueblo’s special engagement pays tribute to Tejano legend Ruben “El Gato Negro” Ramos, marking the upcoming release of his latest album—co-produced by Carrie Rodriguez and acclaimed producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Sergio Mendoza. Ramos will take the stage to perform songs from the new release alongside fan favorites, joined by Rodriguez, Mendoza and friends.

La Texana

La Texana, music Project of Josué Ramírez, was formed at the beginning of 2021 in Tijuana, Baja California. With a laptop and a guitar, the musician recorded his first material at seventeen years old. His sound is deeply inspired by alternative rock in Spanish and the strong wave of new music with post-punk influences.

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In 2021, debuts with “Nunca He Sabido Amar”, only two years later, he launched his first EP, Morro, in which he presents to his audience in five tracks, which include “Un Día Como Hoy” and “Estrés”. In its first six months, Morro achieved 600K plays, which now reach more than 6.5 million streams.

In 2025, La Texana released his first studio album, La Casa Que Cae, a long duration piece that includes 10 songs. This record explores the identity search of the performer and the start of something new. The album produced by Sonido Muchacho reached 2 million streams on its release day; two months later, it achieved more than 8 million plays. This material features the hit songs “Terco”, “El Sol” and “Dispara”.

In May 2025, La Texana performed for the first time at Lunario from Auditorio Nacional, sold out show, in which presented La Casa Que Cae, alongside a tour across México, Latin America, Spain and USA, with more than 50 dates announced, to continue in 2026.

La Texana has more than 200K monthly listeners and more than 8 million plays on the main streaming platforms. As well as the music videos of “Desgárrame”, “Terco”, “Siempre Me Cuesta Regresar” and “¿Hoy A Qué Vamos A Jugar?”, recently selected by Lift-Off NY 2025. A digital phenomenon that has created significant communities in Instagram (27K), Tik Tok (15K) and YouTube (40K).

The songwriter is preparing his next show at Teatro Metropólitan in February 2026, being the biggest show in his career. The style of La Texana continues to evolve, exploring new threads of alternative rock, showing a vulnerable side in his lyrics and working towards the nostalgic sound that distinguishes every song. Now walking side by side with a new generation of Mexican musicians and growing his audience around the world.

Dámaris Bojor

Dámaris Bojor is an emerging artist from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, making waves with her innovative sound and compelling songwriting. She has quickly become a fresh and exciting voice in the Mexican music scene, particularly for her creation of a new genre called “Folkpirano.”

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Dámaris notes, “Folkpirano is a blend of campirano, the regional music of Sierra de Sonora, Sinaloa and American folk/country. The sound is string music. One guitar, a twelve-string, bass, and occasional harmonica and percussion. I consider Miguel Y Miguel to be the roots of the genre.”

Her music is deeply influenced by the landscapes she calls home. The vast, sun-scorched Sonoran Desert instills her sound with a sense of resilience and quiet strength, mirroring the arid yet beautiful environment. Complementing this is her love for the Yécora region, known for its lush forests and cooler climate. This duality of harsh desert and verdant greenery infuses her melodies with a unique blend of warmth and solitude, resonating with the diverse natural beauty of her homeland.

Before turning to music, Dámaris was a trained painter, a background that continues to shape her artistic vision. She approaches lyric writing with the meticulous care of a painter, crafting each word and phrase as if it were a brushstroke on a canvas. Her oil paintings are not only an integral part of her creative process but are also featured with each single release as well as the album cover, adding a visual dimension to her music that deepens the listener’s experience.

“I would like people to know about Sonora, the connection they have with the land, the connection they have with the place, with the experience of passing through a place and living with the geographical space, such as with its flora and fauna, and how that makes you feel,”

Her upcoming debut album, Folkpirana, is being produced by the esteemed Iván De La Rioja of the renowned group, Daniel, Me Estas Matando whom Dámaris supported in Mexico City at Auditorio Nacional last November. The album’s first two singles released through Worldwide/ADA, “Nube De Paso” and “Volar”—the latter featuring the acclaimed Juan Cirerol—have already begun to garner attention for their innovative sound and poignant lyrics.

Folkpirano’s distinct blend of cultural influences speak to a broader narrative of bridging worlds—both musical and geographical—offering a fresh perspective on what modern music can be.

Adding to her growing discography, Dámaris’s next single, “Miro Al Cielo,” is set to release on September 5th, 2024, as the third offering from her forthcoming album titled “Folkpirana”. This release promises to further cement her reputation as an exciting new artist who is redefining the boundaries of genre and bringing a fresh, authentic voice to the global stage.

Las Azaleas

Born in the heart of the Southwest, Las Azaleas is Tucson’s premier all-female, mariachi-inspired ensemble dedicated to reclaiming the stage for women in Latin music. Founded in 2020 by acclaimed vocalist Diana Olivares—a recipient of the Southwest Folklife Alliance Master-Apprentice Artist Award—the group blends traditional mastery with a modern, female-centric narrative.

Rooted in Tucson, Arizona, the ensemble’s artistry has earned them multiple nominations for "Best Mariachi" in the Tucson Weekly Best of Tucson and a featured spotlight in the Fox Tucson Theatre’s NEA-funded "Women of Mariachi" initiative. An early defining moment in their career came in 2021, when the group served as the musical directors for the Tucson All Souls Procession Finale Ceremony, lead musical-arranging and performing for one of the Southwest's most iconic cultural events.

Las Azaleas are staples of the Arizona cultural scene, moving seamlessly from grand stages like the Fox Tucson Theatre—where they have hosted their own “Selena” sing-alongs, supported Latin Grammy winners Flor de Toloache and Sonia de Los Santos—to community landmarks like the Tucson Botanical Gardens and the historic Sosa-Carrillo House.

Whether headlining the Tucson Folk Festival, composing original works for local productions, or joining you at your next family event, Las Azaleas continues to honor the past while defining the future of the feminine voice in mariachi music.

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Sage Lacapa

White Mountain Apache musician Sage Lacapa pushes the boundaries of Americana. His studio album release, "Golden Wave Woman," is a love letter of tension and truth, as told through melodic and catchy hooks, and through the bluesy guitar solos. A unique tone resonates through his music, as he's accompanied by his wife, Kirin, who plays the singing saw and sings backup vocals. The songs of this album have graced the airwaves across the country, a notable favorite being "Heartbreaker" approved by grandmas and heartbreakers alike. At only 22 years old, Sage brings his worldview into his music and shares it with the world through evocative performance and profound lyricism.

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We are D Faktion Nyne, better known as the Enriquez family from Sells, Arizona on the Tohono O'odham Nation. We are brothers & sisters who play alongside our dad, now our nephew/grandson Jerome Narcho, the newest member of DF9. We play Waila Music & have been doing so since 2011.

Founded as a means to heal through music, D Faktion Nyne is a multi-generational family band that gives deeper meaning to the term "family". Performing all over the Tohono O'odham Nation & Gila River Indian Community, our music is a vibrant tone that blends Chotis, Mazurkas, Wailas, Kwaliyas, and Cumbias.

Our family band is & always will be dedicated in Loving Memory of our 2 angels above Stefan A V Enriquez & D Frances J N Miguel (Enriquez). This is our way of healing through our music. D Faktion Nyne! Respect! Peace!

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