Archive There will be plenty of music to dance to at the Tejano Conjunto Festival. The themes throughout the weekend include women in conjunto music, tribute to Tony De la Rosa and Puro Conjunto Pesado: Así se baila en San Anto.

Fans will get an earful of accordion and bajo sexto music at the 27th annual Tejano Conjunto Festival May 6-10. More than 26 bands and an estimated 5,000 conjunto fans will participate in a variety of activities, including instrumental workshops that will give a die-hard fans a hands-on chance a to get into the music.

“It’s hard to highlight just one event. There is a really great conjunto documentary screening on Wednesday (May 7) that will give people who have never seen original documentary videos a retrospective on the history of the music,” said Belinda Menchaca, programs manager for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.

 In addition to looking into the past, the festival wants to get younger generations interested in conjunto. Students from Palo Alto College will perform on Saturday, May 10, as part of the conjunto music program. Additionally, rising conjunto artists Ariel Johnson and Flavio Longoria will keep their family traditions alive.

“I think it is part of the culture to pass on traditions. Older musicians play for the younger ones, and the younger players evolve the music with their own style,” Menchaca said.

Johnson is the son of Chalito Johnson, a musician from Los Paisanos, while Longoria is the son of Valerio Longoria, a well-known musical innovator in the genre. Both will perform at Rosedale Park.

“They are playing with a great deal of pride for what their dads and granddads did for conjunto but they bring individuality to it too,” Menchaca added.

Conjunto fans also can look forward to the Hall of Fame inductions, accordion raffles and, of course, tons of dancing. The event will be hosted at both the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center May 6-8 and at Rosedale Park May 8-10.

Jenina Hernandez | 210SA