Tucson Mariachi Conference is on!
TIMC Board President Alfonso Dancil introduces the board to the mariachi conference's new home, Casino Del Sol.
After months of wondering whether the longest continuously-running mariachi conference in America would be around to celebrate its 30th year, the show is “on” for the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, in a new location and with a powerful new partner.
Casino Del Sol will be ground-zero for this year’s mariachi workshops, Participant Showcase, Espectacular Concert, Mariachi Mass and Fiesta Garibaldi.
Grassy area for Fiesta Gariabldi, looking toward the stage area from about 1/3 back.
The TIMC board met March 7 at Casino Del Sol Resort and Conference Center for a tour of the new site, and it was impressive. In addition to the familiar AVA Amphitheater – a beautiful outdoor performance space with great sound, clear sight lines, outstanding lighting and multimedia capabilities – the casino’s new resort hotel complex offers a HUGE lawn (bigger than Reid Park) next to the pool for the Garibaldi event. There’s plenty of room on the sides there as well for food booths and venders as well.
The rooms are spacious and beautiful, parking is ample, and no more dealing with the Tucson Convention Center’s duct-taped-together bleachers (a sad reality).
Missing this year will be the folklórico component to the workshops, though at last night’s board meeting the possibility of bringing in some of the local dance talent for the shows was enthusiastically discussed.
Looking south toward the pool and the lawn where Fiesta Garibaldi will take place this year.
The challenge is to put together an event that normally takes shape over 12 months in just two. But the board seems motivated, energized and anxious to get rolling with the Pascua Yaqui Nation and Casino Del Sol.
Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán will be there for the Espectacular concert. Unbelievable showman and amazing musicians, this group blew the roof off the concert at San Jose’s VivaFest! last fall. The crowd would NOT let the group leave the stage, demanding and receiving an encore as impressive as the set that earned it in the first place.
This just in, Shaila Dúrcal has also been booked for the Espectacular concert, along with Mariachi Femenil Nuevo Tecalitlán.
View from above of the hotel pool area and the grassy lawn beyond.
Tickets go on sale March 9 at 10 a.m. for the conference, which will take place April 25-28. Click here for ticket info.
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