Austin's Panchanga 2015 Latino Music Festival Rocked with Spanish, Mexican & Texan Performers

On Saturday, May 16, Austin's Pachanga Music Festival pulled off yet another successful run by bringing to the stage some top-notch Latino acts from Seville, Spain, Monterrey, Mexico, Chile, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas where the musical and cultural festival takes over Fiesta Gardens alongside Lady Bird Lake.

While it was a humid day with the sun blazing down, that didn't stop the crowds from gathering and jamming along with the bands who came from several different parts of the world to share their music.

"We're ready for you Texas (our hair isn't, this humidity is killer)!!" -- Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras retweeted from NPR Alt.Latino @AltLatino.

This year, The Pachanga Latino Music Festival partnered with NPR Music and Austin NPR affiliate KUTX 98.9, the Austin Music Experience.

Alt.Latino co-hosts Contreras and Jasmine Garsd, who "present the best in Latin Alternative music," were thrilled to connect talented Latino musicians on Pachanga's live stage. "It's really what Alt.Latino and NPR Music are all about!" Contreras said.

Among the many highlights included Austin's first all-star Selena tribute band Bidi Bidi Banda, which honored the 20th anniversary of the iconic singer Selena Quintanilla's death.

According to The Austin Chronicle, Bidi Bidi Banda "closed down four hours at the Niño's Rock tent with a La Reyna look-alike contest, kicking off the slew of fierce Latina artists."

Latin Grammy Award-winning Spanish hip-hop singer La Mala Rodriguez also brought the house down.

"Nobody had more fun at their set than Seville rap sorceress La Mala Rodriguez, who brought out a rabid fanbase -- Spanish, Mexican, Texan -- which merely shuddered when she soaked them in a barrage of water," The Austin Chronicle added. "Awkward teenagers yelped in excitement when she turned around to reveal deep rips in the seat of her black jeans. Instagram lit up moments later."

Mexican electronic band Kinky, who spoke to Latin Post in an exclusive interview, also brought their A-game.

The eight-time Latin Grammy nominated band is currently touring coast-to-coast and will perform at the Best Buy Theater in New York City on May 22. Kinky's music has gained a lot of attention over the past several years and has been featured in numerous soundtracks, including Jorge Gutierrez's "The Book of Life," as well as TV commercials (including Motorola, Smirnoff Ice, Nissan, Honda) and TV shows, including "Nip Tuck," "Weeds" and "Gossip Girl."

Kinky's songs have also been featured in video games such as EA Sports' FIFA; its aforementioned hit song "Mas" is also included in the video game "SSX 3" and was used in a Taco Bell commercial in 2012.

Alternative Chilean songstress and former lead singer of Los Abandoned María del Pilar and Latin Grammy nominee, former Julieta Venegas bandmate and member of Tijuana No!, Ceci Bastida also took the stage.

Del Pilar reportedly sang for her father, "who worked overtime to pay for her music lessons as a kid." LA-based Bastida wrote her latest album, "'The Age of Violence,' to reconcile reading about daily tragedies while pregnant."

Returning for a third time was Tuscon-based, indie, mambo big-band Orkesta Mendoza, who was introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett, proving that politicians can rock out as well!

Among other performers included singer/actress Ximena Sariñana who was accompanied by a seven-piece band who were all dressed in white; synth-pop hit makers Motel; binational nostalgic rockers Enjambre; Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta; Compass: Mexican Institute of Sound & Toy Selectah, a collaboration between Camilo Lara aka Mexican Institute of Sound and legendary DJ producer Toy Selectah, among others.

The Pachanga Latino Music Festival, which Latin Post attended last year, has also expanded to Dallas and Houston.