Parasol

Centro Cultural Breton, Guadalajara, México
15th August 2025

It’s an unusually busy evening at Centro Cultural Breton. The stage extends over its regular entrance and the habitual array of tables has been pushed out to create an open dance floor. No more seating is available on the ground the level and the upstairs is filling up despite its torn-up tent roof and chance of rain. Tonight it is going to be all about Cumbia, with Las Ponchas, a local collective, opening the stage for the guests of honour: La Negra Mexa.

Alfosina was the original name of the opening act, but it is better known now by the endearment name “Las Ponchas”. It is a sextet of women consisting of Lourdes Espinoza on vocals, Sara Ventura on saxophone, Nohemí Moreno on accordion and piano, Sandra Jauregui on bass guitar, Rita Vargas on guitar y Diana Velázquez on the drum and percussion kit. Together they create a Cumbia rhythm impossible to resist: the dance floor was immediately populated with the enthusiastic attendance. Their interpretations borrow from other traditional Latin genres to create unique versions of beloved dance songs along their own music.

Las cumbiacheras, the backing band for La Negra Mexa, took the stage next. Along with her accordion, the band features synth, percussion, bass guitar, maracas, and backing vocals. The people were ready to dance right as the group played their first notes. The project incorporates sounds from African heritage and hip-hop into their Latin based music which creates a very distinct and energy filled style; they call it Urban Afro-Cumbia. After a dozen songs and well past midnight, the congregation on the dance floor requested an encore, to which the band indulged.