Rhythms of Change: North Carolina's Música Latina

Mexican Regional Music: Festival in Newton Grove
In September, the Episcopal church in Newton Grove hosts its annual Farmworkers Festival.

Father Tony Rojas and members of the congregation organize the daylong event with soccer matches, lots of food, and bands that play an assortment of dance music from northern Mexico, such as, Norteña, Grupera, Duranguense, and Cumbia.

Hundreds of farmworkers and their families from the area attended the 2011 festival .
Los Matias
A group of friends from Oaxaca who live in Four Oaks and play in the region

Compacto Musical
Group members from 5 Mexican states met playing soccer in Newton Grove

"Nacimos como músicos aquí. (Here we were born as musicians.)"

Leobardo Sandoval from Guerrero makes the point that most of the band learned their instruments once they came to North Carolina.

He speaks for the the Newton Grove group when he says that it’s not about the money.

"La musica nos trae por gusto. A mi me da gusto dar alegria a los compañeros. (We play the music for pleasure. It gives me pleasure to give joy to the fellow workers.)"

The money they make goes mostly into instruments, clothes, and equipment.
Project Description | Musician Profiles | Mexican Regional Music