NMCAC Celebrates 10th Year Anniversary of “Taquachito Nights” at the

17th Annual Narciso Martinez Conjunto Festival

WHO: The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
WHAT: 17th Annual Narciso Martinez Conjunto Festival

WHEN: Friday September 12, 2008 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Saturday September 13, 2008 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Sunday September 14, 2008 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm

WHERE: 225 E. Stenger Street, San Benito, Texas

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center, with the help of Miller Lite and the City of San Benito is proud to announce the 17th Annual Conjunto Festival. This three-day event has become a staple event for the community, attracting over 3,500 people for a celebration of live Texas-Mexico Conjunto music.

This year marks a special milestone for the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center as it celebrates the 10th year anniversary of the release of the Festival’s CD entitled “Taquachito Nights.” The caliber of this festival has garnered national attention; in 1998 the Smithsonian Institution’s Folkway Recordings label produced a CD of the Festival entitled “Taquachito Nights,” which is now available for sale world-wide.

This year will feature a reunion of the 1998 musical line-up which included Gilberto Perez, Ernesto Guerra, Ricardo Guzman, Freddy Gonzalez, Martin Zapata, Los Fantasmas del Valle, Beto Martinez and Conjunto Aztlan. Two conjunto greats that are no longer living will be represented by their offspring and family: Valerio Longoria will be represented by his son, Flavio Longoria and Tony de la Rosa will be represented by his nephews, Los D Boyz.

Other featured bands this year will include some Festival regulars such as Conjunto Heritage Taller of San Antonio, Juan Lugo y su Conjunto and Los Angeles del Sur. Highlighting the Festival will be two conjunto legends - Oscar Hernandez and the headliner, Esteban Jordan.

“We’re happy to be celebrating another milestone,” says NMCAC co-founder and Festival artistic director, Ramon de Leon. “We’ve done a lot of work over the years to celebrate our music and our people and we’ve had good results, like Taquachito Nights.”

The three-day celebration includes live music, dancing, and food and beverage for the entire family. General admission is $2.00 each day; children under 12 receive free admission.

NMCAC invites interested parties to join the three-day Conjunto celebration as volunteers or as food or crafts vendors. Fourteen booths are available for rent to the public and will be rented on a first-come, first-serve basis. Booth rental fees are $175 for three days. For more information on booth rentals, please call Yolanda Lopez at (956) 571-3325.

For more information on the “Taquachito Nights” CD visit www.folkways.si.edu. For all other information on the Narciso Martinez Conjunto Festival, please contact Rogelio Nuñez at (956) 361-0110 or (956) 425-9555.

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center preserves, promotes and develops the rich cultural heritage of the “Mexicano” community through programs in the visual arts, music, theater, dance and literature.